Fremantle’s star midfielder Caleb Serong has vowed the Dockers will bounce back against the Western Bulldogs as three successive defeats threaten to derail their season.
Aaron Kirby
There will be tall timber aplenty for Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir to ponder at both ends of the ground as Western Bulldogs forward Rory Lobb firms for a return to his old stomping ground.
Ben Smith
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon — who was in charge of Fremantle when ex-player Harley Balic was in the throes of his drug addiction — concedes he hasn’t ‘got the answer’ to fixing the AFL’s illicit substances policy.
Jackson Barrett
The father of a former Fremantle player has spoken out against the AFL’s illicit drug policy and claims the league knew more about his son’s battle with addiction than the family did.
It might have been a lone West Coast fan that hurled abuse at Fremantle’s Michael Walters but we can all do better to show more respect to AFL players on and off the field, writes Samantha Rogers.
Samantha Rogers
West Coast are ‘extremely disappointed’ after a supporter was accused of hurling abuse at Fremantle veteran Michael Walters following the club’s western derby victory on Saturday.
Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe could wind back the clock this weekend in a head-to-head battle with Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli.
Hayden Young has been given the all clear by club doctors to play in Fremantle’s clash against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, but another injured pair are still waiting for the green light.
The AFL is working with Fremantle to investigate an incident where Dockers veteran Michael Walters was the target of verbal abuse from a West Coast fan at the end of last weekend’s western derby.
Chris Robinson
Sean Darcy has lamented Fremantle getting beaten in the toughness stakes in last weekend’s derby as the Dockers look to snap a three-game slump when the Western Bulldogs come calling.
Craig O'Donoghue
In A Six-Pack Of IPA (Interesting Points, Allegedly), we look at Harley Reid’s heroics, the largest-ever derby upsets according to bookmakers, Freo’s frustrating starts, and more.
Hayden Young spent a large chunk of the western derby watching from the interchange bench due to hamstring tightness but he moved well on Monday as the Dockers prepared for the Western Bulldogs.
From enjoying the Harley Reid hype to Justin Longmuir’s next move, The West Australian reporter Mitchell Woodcock takes a no-holds-barred look back on the week of footy in his new Motormouth Mitch column.
Mitchell Woodcock
AFL expert Danielle Laidley runs the rule over every West Coast Eagle and Fremantle Docker after a western derby shock. Here’s who starred and who struggled.
Danielle Laidley
Fremantle defender Heath Chapman is almost certain to return to the Dockers’ backline this week, in time for a date with Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Heath Chapman made his case for a return and a rookie forward will challenge veteran Matt Taberner for Jye Amiss’ spot next week. Here is how the Fremantle-listed players fared for Peel Thunder.
Fremantle have now failed to kick 70 points across four consecutive games and that’s a stat which is worrying coach Justin Longmuir but he feels the problem is due to issues away from the forward line
Fremantle and West Coast have addressed the ‘stark inequities’ of their travel schedule with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon as they push for an extra home game each season.
Glen Quartermain
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce admits his side ‘butchered’ the ball going forward, weren’t physical enough and were caught out defensively in the western derby ... but he denies they are battle-weary.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he’s ‘cautious to suggest we’re on our way’ after a blistering western derby upset.
Fremantle were blown away by West Coast in the western derby, and coach Justin Longmuir identified one clear area where they simply struggled to compete.
West Coast defender Tom Barrass could face scrutiny over a dangerous tackle in the final quarter of the western derby. WATCH IT HERE
West Coast coach Adam Simpson has repeatedly said the Eagles are searching for their identity. On Saturday night, they found it.
Bang for buck. It’s been Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s go-to line this season, citing a lack of return on forward-50 investment - and they were all buck and no bang in Saturday’s derby defeat.