AFL Finals Preview Sharpens Focus for Perth Clubs Ahead of September Push

The Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles both open their final training blocks this week with the explicit target of locking in top-four finishes before the AFL finals series begins in September.

July marks the last full month for clubs to adjust line-ups and recover from mid-season injuries before the fixture turns into a straight race for September spots, and both Perth sides sit inside the top six after 14 rounds.

Coaches have shifted sessions to the indoor facility at Fremantle Oval on Mondays and Thursdays while the Eagles use the turf at Mineral Resources Park in Joondalup to avoid winter rain, a change confirmed in the WA Football Commission schedule released last month.

Membership numbers for both clubs reached 52,400 combined by the end of June, up 3,800 on the same date in 2025, with the biggest rise recorded among fans aged 18 to 29 who purchased the $245 early-bird package that includes two guaranteed finals tickets.

Fixture pressure points

The Dockers host Geelong at Optus Stadium on 26 July in a match that carries a four-point buffer on the ladder, while the Eagles travel to Adelaide Oval the following week before returning for a Friday night clash against Collingwood on 8 August.

Both clubs have listed 28 players on extended benches for the next fortnight, with the WAFL development sides at Peel Thunder and East Perth supplying extra depth during the bye rounds that start on 19 July.

Ticket prices for the two remaining home-and-away games at Optus Stadium start at $38 for general admission and rise to $95 for the members reserve, with sales opening through Ticketek on 15 July at 9 am.

Supporters planning to attend should check the stadium app for updated transport times on the Fremantle line and book the 5:45 pm train from Perth station to avoid the 45-minute post-match queues recorded after the round-12 derby.