The AFL has unveiled key details of the 2026 fixture, setting the stage for another thrilling season of Australian rules football with significant implications for Western Australia's teams.
Road Starts and Derby Relief
West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers will both begin their 2026 campaigns away from home, with Optus Stadium unavailable for round one due to hosting a Women's Asian Cup soccer semifinal. WA football fans will need to wait until round two to see their teams in action at home, with Fremantle taking on Melbourne on Saturday, March 21, followed by West Coast facing North Melbourne the following day.
The scheduling provides particular challenges for Fremantle, who have played just one home opener since Justin Longmuir's first season as coach in 2020 - the fewest of any club in their home state during that period.
Gather Round Showdowns
The fourth annual Gather Round in South Australia promises several highlight matches, with Fremantle securing a coveted Friday night marquee slot against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on April 10. This matchup features two clubs that finished in the top eight in 2025 and follows a series of thrilling encounters between them over recent seasons.
West Coast, meanwhile, will take on Geelong at Norwood Oval on Sunday, April 12. The Eagles face a tough historical challenge, having lost six consecutive games against the Cats and not beaten Geelong away from Western Australia since 2006.
Western Derby Provides Home Comfort
The 62nd western derby is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, offering both WA teams welcome relief after their South Australian commitments. The derby follows Gather Round and comes after both teams experienced challenging away games before or after the festival round in the previous season.
West Coast suffered an 81-point loss to GWS in Sydney before Gather Round this year, while Fremantle fell to Melbourne by six points at the MCG the week after.
The full 2026 AFL fixture will be released on Thursday, continuing what has been a tough run for the Dockers in season openers. Fremantle's Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood represents a rare prime-time road opportunity for the club, which has played in the marquee slot away from home just three times in the past decade.
Gather Round tickets will go on sale for members on December 4, with general public tickets available from the following day.
