The AFL has unveiled a tantalising fixture for the 2026 Gather Round, with the Fremantle Dockers securing a coveted Friday night marquee slot against the Collingwood Magpies.
This high-stakes clash at Adelaide Oval on Friday, April 10, is set to be a highlight of the South Australian football festival, pitting two top-eight teams from the 2025 season against each other.
Western Australia's Gather Round Showdowns
Fremantle's primetime assignment against Collingwood represents the sole match-up between two clubs that finished in the top eight in 2025. The Dockers earned this spotlight after an impressive performance against Richmond in last season's Gather Round.
This fixture continues a recent trend of thrilling encounters between Freo and the Pies, including Fremantle's epic one-point comeback win at the MCG earlier this year and Collingwood's 14-point triumph at Optus Stadium in their previous 2025 meeting.
The teams also played out a thrilling draw on a Friday night in Perth the year prior, setting the stage for another potential classic.
For the Dockers, this match offers a rare Friday night road clash. The club has played in the marquee slot away from home just three times in the past decade, including last season's heavy defeat against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
Eagles Face Tough Geelong Challenge
Meanwhile, the West Coast Eagles are set for an off-Broadway clash against Geelong at Norwood Oval on Sunday, April 12.
The Eagles face a formidable challenge, having lost six consecutive games against the Cats. This includes a 47-point defeat at Adelaide Oval during the inaugural Gather Round in 2023.
West Coast hasn't beaten Geelong away from Western Australia since 2006, adding extra significance to this encounter.
Full Gather Round 2026 Fixture
The complete schedule for the Round 5 spectacle features matches across multiple Adelaide venues, with all times listed in AWST:
- Thursday, April 9: Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm
- Friday, April 10: Collingwood v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm
- Saturday, April 11: North Melbourne v Brisbane (Barossa Park, 10.35am), Essendon v Melbourne (Adelaide Oval, 11.15am), Sydney v Gold Coast (Norwood Oval, 2.15pm), Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs (Adelaide Oval, 5.35pm)
- Sunday, April 12: Geelong v West Coast (Norwood Oval, 10.30am), GWS v Richmond (Barossa Park, 1.15pm), Port Adelaide v St Kilda (Adelaide Oval, 5.05pm)
The fixture announcement comes as both WA clubs prepare for round one matches interstate due to Optus Stadium hosting a Women's Asian Cup soccer semi-final.
Fremantle has been particularly hard done by regarding season openers, having played just one in WA since Justin Longmuir's first season in charge in 2020 - the fewest of any club in their home state.
