Western Derby
The Western Derby (/ˈdɜːrbi/) is the name given to the Australian rules football match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers, who both participate in the Australian Football League (AFL). As both teams are based in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, the term "derby" is used to describe the match. It has become the most important match for football in Western Australia (outside of finals), with former West Coast player and coach John Worsfold claiming that in the week before a derby that it is the main topic in Perth.
It's obviously different to the build-up of any normal game... We don't care what else is happening in the country, which is great."
Optus Stadium in Perth, the current home stadium of the two teams. | |
| First meeting | 14 May 1995 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | 12 August 2023 |
| Next meeting | TBA |
| Stadiums | Subiaco Oval (1995–2017) Optus Stadium (2018–Present) |
| Trophy | RAC WA Trophy |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 57 |
| All-time series (AFL only) | West Coast 32 wins Fremantle 25 wins |
| Largest victory | West Coast – 117 points (15 April 2000) |
| Longest win streak | West Coast, 11 (16 August 2015 – 15 August 2021) |
| Current win streak | Fremantle, 5 (15 August 2021 – present) |
In 2004, during the 175th-anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Swan River Colony, the Western Derby was named as one of 12 "Heritage Icons", in recognition of "football's key social and historical importance to the State".
Referring to a melee during the Round 21, 2000, Derby, Channel Nine sports reporter Michael Thomson said the match had divided Western Australia and that the "football landscape in WA has been changed forever."
There are two Western Derbies every year during the home-and-away season (barring the exceptional COVID-19-affected 2020 season, where only one derbie was played). From 1995 until 2017, the derbies were held at Subiaco Oval (with the one exception during this period being the October 2005 game at The Oval in London). From 2018, all derbies have been held at Perth Stadium. There has never been a Western Derby finals match.
West Coast were the dominant team during Fremantle's early years, winning the first nine derbies. Fremantle won their first Western Derby in July 1999. Fremantle are the current holders of the Western Derby Trophy after defeating West Coast by 101 points in Round 22 of the 2023 AFL season.
The player adjudged best on ground in each derby match is awarded the Glendinning–Allan Medal, named after the inaugural captains of the clubs: Ross Glendinning (West Coast) and Ben Allan (Fremantle).
To date, there has never been a drawn derby.