Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, July 26, 2:15pm

TV: Live on 7 and 7plus in WA, nationally on Fox Sports and Kayo (see broadcast guide here)

Last time we met: Fremantle 15.16 (106) defeated West Coast 10.8 (68) at Optus Stadium, round 3, 2025.

West Coast fell to Fremantle by 38 points in round three, with costly turnovers and a dominant Dockers midfield proving the difference result. Despite a promising start and spirited moments from new recruits Liam Baker, Jack Graham and young guns Harley and Archer Reid, the Eagles were outplayed in clearances and inside 50s, with Fremantle’s engine room led by Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw taking control. Injuries to Jeremy McGovern and the tactical reshuffling of key players highlighted a tough day for the Eagles, while Ryan Maric stood tall in defence with 28 touches and eight marks.

What it means for the Eagles: Saturday’s clash with Fremantle presents a massive opportunity for the Eagles to make a statement. West Coast will be determined to turn the tables and produce a fiercely competitive effort after a disappointing RAC Derby earlier in the year. A win would not only be arguably the biggest upset in RAC Derby history, it would also reward the group’s continued growth and effort under Andrew McQualter. As the season edges towards its final stages, this showdown is a chance for the Eagles to rise to the occasion, deliver a spirited four-quarter performance, and take a significant step forward in their development.

The stat: The Derby ledger is tight, with West Coast holding a slight edge at 33 wins to Fremantle’s 27, while the battle at Optus Stadium is dead even at seven wins apiece from 14 encounters.

The match-up:  Rueben Ginbey v Patrick Voss

The clash between Fremantle key forward Patrick Voss and West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey looms as a crucial battle in Saturday’s Derby. Voss has emerged as a powerful target inside 50 with strong leading patterns and scoreboard impact, and is coming off a six-goal match-winning display against Collingwood, while Ginbey has adapted impressively to a defensive role, using his strength, athleticism and intercept ability to shut down dangerous forwards. If Ginbey can limit Voss’s influence and generate rebound from defence, it could swing momentum West Coast’s way.

It’s a big week for: Elijah Hewett

It’s a big week for Elijah Hewett as he returns to the side fresh from a week off and ready to make an impact in the high-pressure environment of a Derby. Known for his explosive power and ability to break lines, Hewett is a genuine barometer for the Eagles. His intensity and physical presence often setting the tone for those around him. With his burst from stoppage and fierce attack on the contest, he’ll be looking to come out firing and give West Coast an early edge against their cross-town rivals.

Big call: Jobe Shanahan will bag five majors in a standout performance.

West Coast fought until the end before going down by 49 points to Fremantle in an at times spiteful RAC Derby No.61 at Optus Stadium on Saturday. 

The Dockers were wasteful in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) win, which saw midfielder Hayden Young win the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield, finishing with three goals and 23 disposals. 

It was a Derby between two teams in vastly different positions as the Dockers eye a bigger prize later this year and the Eagles fight for respect after a dispiriting loss to Richmond last week.

Andrew McQualter's underdogs showed plenty of fight but ultimately lacked the experience and class to match Freo's midfield, which won the clearances (45-27) and inside 50s (56-42) convincingly.

The Eagles kicked their third highest score this season, with the game opening up in the final quarter, and benefited from a much improved performance from Tim Kelly (26, two goals and eight clearances).

They will sweat on Harley Reid's fitness after the young star was crunched in a tackle late and limped from the ground.

The Dockers were best served by Young, while half-forward Michael Frederick booted a career-best four goals and draftee Murphy Reid gathered 23 disposals and a game-high six score assists.

Star midfielder Andrew Brayshaw was influential with a game-high 32 disposals and eight clearances, stepping up as sidekick Caleb Serong battled a tag from Brady Hough.   

There was late drama five minutes before the opening bounce, with important West Coast defender Harry Edwards heading to the rooms with a hamstring injury and emergency Sandy Brock rushing onto the ground for a brief warm-up.

There was little time for Brock to settle, with the 10-gamer thrust into the starting 18 and a match-up on Jye Amiss as the game started in a flurry of physical clashes as the Eagles tried to get an early foothold.

Goals to Jamie Cripps and Tyler Brockman gave the underdogs an early lead, with the team tackling hard and forcing turnovers. But once the Dockers settled, they accelerated away to kick five unanswered goals in an 11-minute burst.

Young and Frederick were central to the charge, kicking two goals each in succession as the Dockers built a 28-point lead at the first break.

That extended to 35 when Frederick converted on the run to start the second quarter, but the Eagles response – led by Reid – was impressive.

Reid was being tagged by Jaeger O'Meara and attempted to break it by positioning himself next to Luke Jackson and forcing a two-on-one. He then used the confusion at a half-forward stoppage to burst into space and kick a brilliant goal on the run from 50m.

Kelly cut the margin to 23 points when he snapped a neat set shot from the pocket, with the Eagles' accuracy in stark contrast to the wasteful Dockers, who booted five behinds in a row before the Eagles snared another late goal through Cripps.

It would have been a frustrating quarter for the Dockers, who won the clearances (11-7) and inside 50s (16-9) for the term but didn't capitalise, heading to the rooms with a 22-point lead after Josh Treacy called them together for a few words on the field.

The pattern continued to start the third, with the Dockers enjoying the first five inside 50s but kicking 0.3 before the Eagles made them pay through Liam Baker after he caught Heath Chapman holding the ball.

At one point the Dockers had 20 scoring shots to the Eagles' seven but led by only three goals. It took a pair of set shots from Jye Amiss and Pat Voss to push the lead back out to 30 points before Young kicked his third streaming inside 50.

Kelly cut the margin to 30 points at the last change, but any chance of a miracle comeback was quickly snuffed out by a run of four unanswered Freo goals to start the fourth term.  

The Eagles will travel to face Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in round 21 on Saturday. 

FREMANTLE  6.4    7.10    10.16   18.18 (126)
WEST COAST  2.0     5.0     7.4       12.5 (77)

GOALS
Fremantle: Frederick 4, Young 3, Amiss 3, Voss 3, Bolton, Dudley, Jackson, Reid, Switkowski
West Coast: Cripps 2, Kelly 2, Baker 2, H.Reid 2, Brockman, Dewar, Hewett, Ryan

BEST
Fremantle: Young, Brayshaw, Bolton, Frederick, Reid, Jackson, Amiss
West Coast: Baker, Kelly, McCarthy, Ginbey, Hough

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
West Coast: H.Reid (ankle)

LATE CHANGES
Fremantle: Nil
West Coast: Harry Edwards (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Sandy Brock

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Neil Erasmus (replaced Hayden Young in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Tyrell Dewar (replaced Matt Owies in the third quarter)

Crowd: 54,384 at Optus Stadium