Fremantle and West Coast will be spared of interstate travel for a second straight pre-season in 2026, with the WA clubs’ preparations to include a match simulation clash against one another in February.

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The Dockers are set to call on Mandurah’s Rushton Park for a practice match against Adelaide on Saturday February 28, a day before West Coast host Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park.

Those fixtures will come around a week after a pre-season western derby hit-out, with an exact date and venue yet to be confirmed. That clash could provide the first opportunity for fans of both WA clubs to see their new recruits in action, including West Coast’s top draft pair Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler and Dockers defensive addition Judd McVee.

It marks a second consecutive year where neither WA club has to leave their home state in the lead-up to the season proper. Last year, Fremantle had clashes against an Indigenous All Stars side and then hosted Melbourne, while the Eagles enjoyed home warm-ups against Richmond and North Melbourne.

Next year’s pre-season also includes the AFL Origin clash at Optus Stadium on February 14, which is set to include a number of WA-based players. Shai Bolton has already been confirmed to line up for the Black Swans, while Justin Longmuir will be a part of Dean Cox’s coaching unit.

Fremantle and West Coast’s home pre-season clashes come as both clubs prepare to hit the road for their season openers, due to Optus Stadium being unavailable amid hosting the Women’s Asian Cup. The Dockers travel to Geelong for a repeat of their 2025 opener, while the Eagles go up against the Suns on the Gold Coast.

Elsewhere in pre-season fixtures announced by the AFL on Tuesday, Ballarat’s Mars Stadium will host three matches in as many days from February 27 to March 1. It comes after the Western Bulldogs relocated their games from the venue for next year’s season proper due to the stadium’s redevelopment.

WA CLUBS’ 2026 PRE-SEASON SCHEDULESaturday February 14: AFL Origin – WA v Victoria, Optus Stadium, 4.40pmTBC, likely weekend of February 21-22: West Coast v Fremantle, venue TBCSaturday February 28: Fremantle v Adelaide, Rushton Park, 3.10pmSunday March 1: West Coast v Port Adelaide, Mineral Resources Park, 3.10pmOTHER CLUBS’ AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES GAMES

(all times WA)

Wednesday February 25: Carlton v Geelong, Ikon Park, 4.10pmThursday February 26: Sydney v GWS, Henson Park, 1.10pmThursday February 26: Brisbane v Gold Coast, Brighton Homes Arena, 4.10pmFriday February 27: Melbourne v Richmond, Mars Stadium, 1.10pmFriday February 27: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Whitten Oval, 4.10pmSaturday February 28: St Kilda v Essendon, Mars Stadium, 12.10pmSunday March 1: North Melbourne v Collingwood, Mars Stadium, 12.10pm