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The Dockers and Eagles both lost their opening game for a second straight season.

analysis
analysis
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analysis
LAIDLEY’S RATINGS: The Docker who’s now ‘a liability’

Danielle Laidley assesses every Fremantle and West Coast player after an unsuccessful opening weekend. See who starred and who struggled, including a Doig Medallist who’s at the bottom of the Dockers’ ratings.

Danielle Laidley

Willem Duursma (right) is out of contract in 2028.

opinion
opinion
AFLCommentsPremium
opinion
The trade West Coast will be sweating on in 2026

After the season really kicked off with a bumper round one, The West Australian’s Mitchell Woodcock takes a no-holds-barred look at the weekend of action.

Mitchell Woodcock

Caleb Serong looking to evade Bailey Smith on Saturday.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFLCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Adapt or die: Serong says Freo must heed lesson out of loss

Adapt or die. That’s the mantra that will be on the minds of Fremantle players in the wake of their second-half fadeout, with Caleb Serong admitting the inability to respond to the Cats’ changes proved costly.

Glen Quartermain

Suns' Mac Andrew gave away three free kicks on a frustrating night against the Cats. (AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremium'Pull his head in': Hardwick calls out fiery Sun

Damien Hardwick admits combustible defender Mac Andrew will be challenged all AFL season by rivals attempting to provoke him.

Murray Wenzel

Young Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is looking at a future as a tagging target. (Adam Trafford/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLSaints to keep working through how star handles tags

Coach Ross Lyon said being tagged is just 'part of the business' after Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's impact was again limited in St Kilda's loss to Melbourne.

Anna Harrington

Justin Longmuir sparked conversation in his press conference.

opinion
opinion
AFLComments
opinion
Why Longmuir’s press conference is a breath of fresh air

The West Australian’s Jackson Barrett takes a look at the big stories of each round in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Jackson Barrett

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has lamented the first 45 minutes of his side’s 59-point loss to Gold Coast.

AFLVideoCommentsMcQualter pleased by ‘resilience’ but laments Eagles start

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has lamented the first 45 minutes of his side’s 59-point loss to Gold Coast, saying they got beaten by what they expected from the Suns.

Mitchell Woodcock

Milan Murdock celebrates a goal.

AFLCommentsPremium‘Pinching myself’: Sparky shocked by electrifying debut

West Coast debutant Milan Murdock has opened up on his stunning first game at AFL level, revealing the fact he had achieved his dream of reaching the top level was a long way from fully sinking in.

Josh Kempton

The Eagles produced a strong response after a horror first half.

analysis
analysis
AFLCommentsPremium
analysis
Glass half-full or half-empty? Eagles give evidence of both

West Coast’s pessimistic fans would have seen plenty of evidence to support their viewpoint in the first game of the year, but those who see the glass as half-full may have too, writes Josh Kempton.

Josh Kempton

Christian Petracca and Ben King kicked nine goals between them as the Suns beat the plucky Eagles. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLEagles show pluck to slow red-hot Suns

Christian Petracca starred again for Gold Coast but they were slowed down by a new-look West Coast sparked by a debutant only recruited a fortnight ago.

Murray Wenzel

Eagles and Suns players scuffle.

AFLCommentsTale of two halves as Eagles succumb to Suns in opener

For a half, it was looking like total disaster, but West Coast at least showed some fight to finish in their 59-point loss to Gold Coast.

Mitchell Woodcock

Jake Rogers gets away from Reuben Ginbey.

AFLCommentsPremiumThree-word analysis of every Eagle in season-opening belting

West Coast produced a vastly-improved second-half effort, but still succumbed to a 59-point hammering at the hands of Gold Coast. See how we summed up every Eagle in three words here!

Chris Robinson

Jacob van Rooyen has starred with six goals in Melbourne's thrilling win over St Kilda. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLDees usher in new era as van Rooyen hits Saints for six

Melbourne have upset St Kilda by 13 points, with Jacob van Rooyen kicking six goals to start the Steven King era with a win.

Anna Harrington

Dennis Cometti with his son Mark in 2019.

AFLComments‘Truly grateful’: Cometti family’s message to footy public

The family of Dennis Cometti say the broadcasting legend would be “humbled and amazed” by the wide-ranging and heartfelt tributes from the footy world following his death earlier this month.

Chris Robinson

Liam Ryan's brilliant grab.

AFLVideoCommentsRyan flyin’ again! Ex-Eagle’s early Mark of the Year effort

Liam Ryan has wasted no time in taking to the skies for his new club, with the former Eagle producing an early Mark of the Year contender in St Kilda’s clash with Melbourne. WATCH IT HERE

Chris Robinson

Christian Petracca was on fire again.

AFLCommentsRECAP: Suns win big but Eagles bring home small positives

West Coast started their 2026 campaign with four debutants but were taught a lesson by top-four fancies Gold Coast. Recap all the action from our blog.

Aaron Kirby

Collingwood are yet to decide if they will contest the one-match ban handed to Scott Pendlebury. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLMagpie Pendlebury receives first ban of 427-game career

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has received a one-game ban for rough conduct, marking the first suspension of his 427-game AFL career.

Anna Harrington

Port Adelaide's Esava Ratugolea had his hands full with North Melbourne spearhead Nick Larkey. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLWin over Power shows Roos are ready to mature: Clarkson

After a frustrating rebuild, North Melbourne have started 2026 with a bang, handing Josh Carr a brutal loss in his first game as Power senior coach.

Sam McInerney

A former star AFL forward has called for the Dockers to consider picking new recruit Mason Cox. 

AFLCommentsFormer star AFL forward calls on Dockers to select Mason Cox

A former star AFL forward has called for the Dockers to consider picking new recruit Mason Cox, but not in the place of Sean Darcy.  

Aaron Kirby

Key voices in the AFL industry have rallied behind Justin Longmuir.

AFLCommentsPremiumExperts rally behind Longmuir’s Opening Round call

Calls are growing for the AFL to dump Opening Round after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir railed against the advantage it gives teams who also feature the following week. 

Josh Kempton

WA football legend Bill Dempsey has died.

updated
updated
AFLCommentsPremium
updated
WA football legend Bill Dempsey dies aged 83

The Australian footy community is mourning Bill Dempsey, with the West Perth great passing away at age 83.

Mitchell Woodcock

Justin Longmuir and the Dockers threw away a hot start against Geelong.

AFLComments‘Work to do’ with midfield balance, admits JL

Fremantle has “some work to do” with a high-octane rotating midfield that caught Geelong off guard at times but struggled to find the right mix at others, says coach Justin Longmuir.

Glen Quartermain

The Tasmania Devils will open their VFL season aginst Coburg at North Hobart Oval. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

AFL'A larger story': Devils aim up for historic VFL game

Two years out from their AFL debut, the Tasmania Devils will field a team in the VFL in what is viewed as a key stepping stone in the club's development.

Ethan James

AFL Origin was a raging success in Perth.

opinion
opinion
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opinion
HASELBY: The secret to making AFL Origin special

AFL Origin was a raging success in Perth to start 2026, but the key to keeping it that way is scarcity, writes Paul Hasleby.

Paul Hasleby