What’s On | Round 24
West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans 
Saturday, August 23 | 5.35pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk 
Gates open 4.00pm 

Be there for our final match of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season this Saturday night, when we celebrate our Eagles family.

This Member Thank You Round we’re celebrating our members, whose passion, loyalty, and dedication has prevailed through another season. 

Look out for our 23 Rick’s Rookies members who will be running through the banner with the team as our junior mascots, and special member giveaways throughout the match.

We’ve also done a deal for you – pies, sausage rolls and chips will be just $4 each, courtesy of Optus Stadium.  

Match Day Timeline 

4.00pm | Gates/Fan Zone open 

5:15pm | Auzzie’s flight around the stadium – head to the Fan Zone pre-match to guess Auzzie’s flight time, for your chance to win a team-signed football 

5.24pm | Team entry with 23 Rick’s Rookies members  

5.35pm | Bouncedown 

Quarter-time | On-field performance from the West Coast Eagles Cheer Crew, alongside Holly Denton 

Half-time | We will announce the winners of the round 24 member giveaways! Plus, don’t miss a special proposal, thanks to Stefan Diamonds 

Three-quarter time | Crown Kick to Win  

Post-match | Hear from Senior Coach Andrew McQualter post-match as the players hand out limited-edition, player-worn ‘Eagles Family’ tees around the boundary 

Head to the Fan Zone on the western concourse on Level 1 (inside Gate D) from 4.00pm:  

• Be a part of the 2025 AFL team photo! Snap your picture to be placed amongst the team 
• Guess Auzzie the Eagle’s flight time for your chance to win a football signed by the 2025 AFL team – Auzzie will be back in the Fan Zone at half-time for photos with her fans 
• Find our mascots Rick and Rosie roaming the concourse, plus the brass band 
• Selected player signings from 4.35pm (subject to change) 
• SPIN TO WIN: Your chance to take home Eagles goodies 
• Facepainting and airbrush tattoos are back, as well as player height charts, footy games and crafts

Curtain Raiser  

Gate C will open from 3.00pm for the Regional Next Generation Academy curtain raiser at 4.20pm. Please note, all patrons must hold a valid ticket to the West Coast Eagles v Sydney match to enter Optus Stadium for the curtain raiser. Early arrivals for curtain raiser matches will be restricted to a small viewing area until general seating opens at 4.00pm.

Public Transport

Remember to plan your journey ahead of Saturday with Transperth’s Journey Planner.  

Public Transport is included in the cost of your match day ticket, with free travel on Perth’s buses and trains three hours either side of the match. If asked, please show your ticket to the driver or inspector. 

The Thornlie-Cockburn train line is now open, with new connections to Optus Stadium. For more information on this line, click here. 

With the opening of the Ellenbrook line, direct trains from Fremantle to Perth Stadium Station will not be operating before AFL matches.  

Bus route 652 (Mirrabooka Bus Station) and route 653 (Galleria Bus Station) will now arrive and depart from Bus Hub. Patrons will no longer need to walk across Matagarup Bridge.

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, August 23, 5.35pm

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

Last time we met: Sydney Swans 15.14 (104) defeated West Coast to 11.12 (78) at Mount Barker, round four, 2024

West Coast produced a spirited first-half showing against Sydney during Gather Round in 2024, leading by five points at the main break before the Swans’ class told in the second half. Harley Reid kicked his first AFL goal and impressed with 18 disposals and his trademark aggression, while Elliot Yeo (28 touches, six clearances) and Liam Duggan (30 disposals) worked tirelessly through the midfield. Jeremy McGovern battled strongly in defence despite a heavy collision, but Sydney finished the stronger with Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Brodie Grundy influential in the 26-point result.

What it means for the Eagles: Saturday’s clash with Sydney is the Eagles’ final chance to close out a challenging season on a positive note. After enduring a difficult 2025 campaign, a strong performance would showcase the group’s fight and resilience, while also rewarding the loyalty of members in the club’s dedicated ‘Member Thank You Round’. A win would not only provide a fitting end to the season but also give the playing group confidence to carry into the 2026 pre-season.

The stat: It’s the debut clash for the first-year senior coaches Andrew McQualter and Dean Cox facing off against each other. Their last on field encounter was way back when St Kilda took on West Coast in round 9, 2010.

The match-up: Jamie Cripps v Nick Blakey

The showdown between Jamie Cripps and Sydney’s Nick Blakely will be a key contest to watch. Blakely, a versatile defender with a keen ability to read the play and intercept marks, will look to shut down Cripps and limit his impact in front of goal. Cripps, one of the Eagles’ most experienced forwards, thrives on creating space, taking strong marks, and converting his opportunities on the scoreboard. If Cripps can find a way to break free from Blakely’s influence, while also closing down his trademark run and carry, it could be pivotal in providing West Coast with scoring drive and momentum throughout the game.

It’s a big week for: Lucca Grego

Lucca Grego prepares to make his AFL debut in the final round. A competitive and resilient midfielder/defender, Grego has impressed in the WAFL with his one-on-one strength, aerial ability, and decision-making throughout his time at West Coast. Originally from the Western Jets, where he captained the side and averaged 23 disposals, Grego has been a standout performer at junior and state level. Saturday’s clash at Optus Stadium presents an exciting opportunity for Grego to showcase his talent on the AFL stage in front of family, friends, and the blue and gold faithful.

Big call: Stand-in captain Liam Baker will lead the midfield with a best-on-ground performance and inspire the Eagles to a season-closing win over Sydney.

The West Coast Eagles' 2025 campaign has come to a disappointing finish following a 67-point loss to Sydney at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. 

After a fast-start, including the first three goals that brought the crowd to life, the Eagles were overwhelmed by the star-studded Swans and could not avoid the club's worst-ever season with a solitary victory. 

The Swans steadied after half-time and - following the Eagles' loss of gun defender Reuben Ginbey in the second term - Sydney went on to kick 13 goals to one in the second half to win 18.10 (118) to 7.9 (51).  

It was their fifth straight win against West Coast, kicking their highest score of the season. Opening quarter aside, it was clear last year's Grand Finalists have more to offer next year than the 12 wins they produced in 2025, finishing 10th.  

Midfielder Errol Gulden was brilliant for the winners, sparking them with his crisp kicking through the midfield and finishing with 36 disposals, 10 marks and two goals.

Sidekick Isaac Heeney was a bull in the midfield, winning a game-high 10 clearances from his 26 touches, while forward Tom Papley was clinical in the front half with three goals and six score assists.

The young Eagles hunted their opponents early but could not sustain the fight, with 19-year-old key forward Jobe Shanahan a shining light again with three goals in his ninth game. 

West Coast's pressure had been terrific for two weeks coming into Saturday night's clash, and the team didn't let it drop in a red-hot start, laying several crunching tackles and opening an 18-point lead.

Their ball-use was also much-improved, however, using the corridor and switching play well as Jamie Cripps and Bailey Williams converted long set shots and Shanahan got free out the back to kick his first goal.

Liam Ryan's turnover at half-back with eight seconds to play allowed Hayden McLean to get the Swans on the board, cutting the margin to 13 points at the first break.

The Swans' big names lifted in an entertaining second term to get them back into the game, with Gulden and Heeney both influential, while Jack Buller launched from 50m for his first goal.

The Eagles had concerns as defender Reuben Ginbey left the ground, but they rallied again as second-gamer Jacob Newton kicked his first AFL goal and Shanahan used his strength in the air to add another.

They led at half-time for the seventh time this season, holding a seven-point lead, but that was quickly eaten up by Sydney in a third-quarter burst, kicking six unanswered goals to gain control of the game.

The Swans' kicking skills were on show as the Eagles' pressure dropped, picking their way through the middle of the ground and then converting efficiently as Will Hayward and Papley ran riot inside 50.

The final quarter of the season for both teams was a procession, as Sydney cashed in with another run of six unanswered goals, with Shanahan's set shot for West Coast the only thing to celebrate for the home team.

While 2025 will go down as a challenging year, the emergence of young talents like Jobe Shanahan, Jacob Newton and Reuben Ginbey provides West Coast fans with optimism for a brighter future.

WEST COAST    3.2   6.6   6.7   7.9 (51)

SYDNEY            1.1   5.5   11.7   18.10 (118)  

GOALS

West Coast: Shanahan 3, Cripps, Flynn, Newton, Williams

Sydney: Buller 3, Papley 3, Blakey 2, Gulden 2, Hayward 2, McLean 2, Rowbottom 2, Heeney, Warner

BEST

West Coast: Shanahan, Kelly, Baker, Flynn, Graham, Hough

Sydney: Gulden, Heeney, Papley, Buller, Blakey, Grundy, Mills

INJURIES

West Coast: Ginbey (right leg)

Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

West Coast: Tyrell Dewar (replaced Reuben Ginbey in the second quarter)

Sydney: Riley Bice (replaced Angus Sheldrick in the third quarter)

Crowd: 36,029 at Optus Stadium