Welcome to the Western Watercooler, where we break down the key moments from the weekend’s matches – and highlight the positives, disappointments, and reasons for hope that WA football fans can take into the rest of the season.
The weekend brought contrasting experiences for the local teams. The Dockers gave the purple army a perfect start to a long weekend with a thrilling victory on the road. Meanwhile, West Coast fans had a very different experience as their team faced a heavy defeat.
Fremantle fans have plenty to be excited about right now. A four-point win in the most dramatic fashion was a great way to kick off the weekend. However, the story was quite different for West Coast supporters, who saw their team struggle badly against Sydney.
Only just under 51,000 fans turned up at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon, only to witness the Eagles being overwhelmed from the start. The performance reminded many of past seasons when heavy losses were all too common.
Fremantle Dockers
What went right?
Alex Pearce once again proved his worth. The captain has been a consistent performer when his team needs him most. In consecutive years, he has stepped up to save and win games. On Friday night, Pearce made a crucial diving smother to stop James Peatling’s final attempt for the Crows. This moment came in almost the same spot where he kicked a goal in the final minute last year to beat Port Adelaide.
Jye Amiss showed significant improvement. Just two weeks ago, there were concerns about his form, but he performed well in the win over Richmond. Against the Crows, he was the most dangerous forward in the first half and finished with a career-equalling four goals.
What went wrong?
From the 10-minute mark of the third term, the Crows started to dominate. Fremantle struggled to respond as Adelaide scored five unanswered goals in the third term and seven more in the fourth, turning a 34-point lead into a 10-point deficit. While the Dockers showed resilience by coming back for a result, they will need to review this period thoroughly, as it highlighted areas for improvement.
Silver lining:
Fremantle will face Collingwood in the Gather Round clash in Adelaide. The Magpies are dealing with several injury concerns, including Nick Daicos, who was a late withdrawal from the Brisbane match due to a calf injury. Darcy Moore is already out, and Scott Pendlebury is struggling with an Achilles issue. These challenges could give the Dockers a chance to bounce back.
West Coast Eagles
What went right?
There wasn’t much to celebrate for the Eagles. Their 128-point loss was the fifth worst in their 40-year history and the largest defeat at Optus Stadium. Joel Amartey opened the scoring in the first minute, setting the tone for a difficult day. The only positive note was that Sydney didn’t manage to replicate their 171-point win from 2023. Willem Duursma’s two goals and Jobe Shanahan’s versatility provided some hope for fans on an otherwise bleak day.
What went wrong?
Everything went wrong for the Eagles. Their slow starts have been a recurring issue this season, and this game was no different. The Swans scored the first 11 goals of the game, using their speed, skill, and transition play to dismantle the Eagles easily. Sydney’s performance was impressive, and the Eagles had no response.
After two consecutive wins, this defeat served as a harsh reality check. Harley Reid felt the absence of midfielders Elliot Yeo and Deven Robertson, as his impact was limited by the tight coverage from James Jordan.
Silver lining:
At least there were no injuries. It’s a small consolation, but the only way the loss could have been worse was if more players had gone down with injuries. Deven Robertson will return from suspension next week, while Elliot Yeo is pushing to come back from a groin injury, though he is likely to miss the upcoming clash against the Cats in Adelaide.
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