Eagles rewarded for improvement with blockbuster opener
West Coast have been rewarded for their stunning improvement under Daisy Pearce with a bumper opening-night fixture against Gold Coast to start the AFLW season.
The fixtures for the new AFLW season were released on Friday morning after a delay, before the season's launch in the middle of August.
And the Eagles will use Leederville Oval to launch their season, against the Suns on August 14, after the success of last year's western derby at the venue.
That game will be played immediately after the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood, which opens the 10th anniversary season as a nod to the competition's first-ever game.
Fremantle will start their season with a tough slate, with a trip to Port Adelaide (sixth last year) to start their campaign immediately followed by hosting Brisbane (third) and reigning premiers North Melbourne.
Pearce's Eagles head to Windy Hill to take on Essendon in their second game of the season and will stay in Melbourne to take on St Kilda the following week, before they return to their Mineral Resources Park base to host Port Adelaide.
It is Fremantle's turn to host the derby at Fremantle Oval on September 14, which is a Sunday evening. Emma O'Driscoll post-Fremantle's AFLW finals win last season. Credit: Paul Kane/AFL Photos / via Getty Images
The Dockers will also feature in a showpiece clash with Carlton at Ikon Park on the eve of the AFL grand final, one of four games across Melbourne on Victoria's public holiday.
Lisa Webb's side will then stay in Melbourne to play a Thursday night primetime clash with Hawthorn the following week.
The double-ups in Victoria is a significant win for both West Australian clubs and will be a significant reduction in their travel.
Fremantle will be happy with where they start their campaign season; after their opening round game of the season away to Port Adelaide, four of their next five games will be held in Fremantle, while the Eagles also have a five-game stretch which features four games in WA.
Travel concerns look to have been somewhat mitigated for both sides, with Fremantle due to travel five times this season and the Eagles just four.
Neither the Eagles or the Dockers face Western Bulldogs, who finished 12th last season.
In addition to their season opener, West Coast will host two more games at Leederville Oval, against Geelong and Carlton at the back-end of the campaign.
Last season, Fremantle finished fifth and beat Essendon in front of a packed crowd at Fremantle Oval in their first final, before ultimately succumbing to Adelaide a week later.
West Coast finished with a 4-7 record last year — their highest number of wins in a season in their shot history — and finished in 13th spot last year.
Fremantle 2025 AFLW fixtures
Sunday August 17 — Port Adelaide vs Fremantle at Alberton Oval
Saturday August 23 — Fremantle vs Brisbane at Fremantle Oval
Sunday August 31 — Fremantle vs North Melbourne at Fremantle Oval
Sunday September 7 — Sydney vs Fremantle at Henson Park
Sunday September 14 — Fremantle vs West Coast Eagles at Fremantle Oval
Saturday September 20 — Fremantle vs Essendon at Fremantle Oval
Friday September 26 — Carlton vs Fremantle at Ikon Park
Thursday October 2 — Hawthorn vs Fremantle at Frankston Oval
Sunday October 12 — Fremantle vs Melbourne at Fremantle Oval
Saturday October 18 — GWS vs Fremantle at Henson Park
Saturday October 25 — Fremantle vs Richmond at Fremantle Oval
TBC — Adelaide vs Fremantle at Norwood Oval
West Coast Eagles 2025 AFLW fixtures
Thursday August 14 — West Coast vs Gold Coast at Sullivan Logistics Oval
Sunday August 24 — Essendon vs West Coast at Windy Hill
Saturday August 30 — St Kilda vs West Coast at RSEA Park
Sunday September 7 — West Coast vs Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park
Sunday September 14 — Fremantle vs West Coast at Fremantle Oval
Sunday September 21 — Melbourne vs West Coast at Casey Fields
Sunday September 28 — West Coast vs GWS at Mineral Resources Park
Sunday October 5 — West Coast vs Collingwood at Mineral Resources Park
Saturday October 11 — Adelaide vs West Coast at Norwood Oval
Friday October 17 — West Coast vs Geelong at Sullivan Logistics Oval
Saturday October 25 — Sydney vs West Coast at Henson Park
TBC — West Coast vs Carlton at Sullivan Logistics Oval
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