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AFLW: Fremantle, West Coast locked in for round eight Western Derby as fixture loom

Headshot of Mitchell Woodcock
Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Fremantle celebrate their Western Derby win over West Coast.
Camera IconFremantle celebrate their Western Derby win over West Coast. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Fremantle and West Coast have been locked in for a bumper AFLW Western Derby clash at Optus Stadium on February 26 as part of a new-look 10-round fixture set to be released on Thursday.

The traditional rivals will meet in round eight as part of Indigenous round, the fourth time they have met since the Eagles joined the competition in 2020.

It is understood both WA teams will play a number of games early in the season at home before spending a short period of time on the road as the AFL looks to best navigate complications around border restrictions.

The AFL has worked closely with the Eagles and Dockers to ensure their players are looked after despite being part-time athletes, with a number of holding jobs outside of football.

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Despite the impending border complications, the AFLW has still fixtured the traditional rivals for later in the season as to avoid any overlap with the summer of cricket.

The Game AFL 2024

The 2022 AFLW will officially bounce down on January 7, with St Kilda to meet Richmond at Skybus Stadium.

The traditional opener of Carlton taking on Collingwood has been pushed back until the Sunday because of redevelopment at Ikon Park, which has the ground without appropriate lights.

The West Australian understands the Eagles and Dockers will both play in WA in round one, with one game to be under lights on Saturday, January 8 and the other to be a twilight fixture the next day.

Kara Antonio led Fremantle to three consecutive AFLW derby wins.
Camera IconKara Antonio led Fremantle to three consecutive AFLW derby wins. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Fremantle have won all three AFLW Western Derbies against the Eagles, with the first on February 15 of 2020 attracting a crowd of more than 35,000.

Dockers star Kiara Bowers has claimed each best on ground medal in the three clashes, leading her side to wins by an average of 40.5 points.

The two teams clashed twice last year because of border complications related to COVID-19.

Fremantle won the round six contest by a whopping 67 points, with forward Gemma Houghton booting five goals to record the second highest score in AFLW history.

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