We're heading to the west coast to play The Fremantle Dockers for Round 1 at Optus Stadium.

Who: Fremantle Dockers vs Brisbane Lions
Where: Optus Stadium, WA
When: Sunday 17th March at 3:50pm (local)
Gates Open: 2:15pm, check your ticket for your entry gate.

Weekly Notices
→ Come down and watch the Players train at open Captains Run: Saturday 16th March, 11-11:45am at Optus Stadium

Tickets → Buy your tickets here to Round 1.

Activities and Entertainment → The Kids Zone is packed with a variety of activities and entertainment options for children of all ages. Some of the highlights include: Face Painters, colouring in Books,Corn Hole, Roaming Entertainment, Airbrush Tattoo, 101 Oh What Fun from gates open until the end of three-quarter time and Mascots.

Food & Drinks → Optus Stadium has a wide range of food and beverage options available on game day. The stadium is currently a cashless venue, meaning you will need to pay using EFTPOS at all food and beverage outlets. Optus Stadium is a fully licensed venue which means you can purchase food and alcohol. However, if you would prefer to bring your own food you are welcome to. Water bottles are allowed, however they must be fully sealed, or empty on arrival. There are water refilling stations throughout the stadium. BYO alcohol and glass bottles are strictly prohibited. 

Key times - Round 1 v Brisbane
2.15pm - Gates open 
3.05pm – 3.20pm - On-field warm-up 
3.33pm - Brisbane team entry 
3.50pm - Bounce down 

Public Transport → The Stadium precinct includes a purpose built train and bus station to accommodate large crowds attending events at Optus Stadium. Read more here.
Remember to always plan your trip: Plan ahead →

Changes to Trains → There will be no trains between Armadale/Thornlie and Victoria Park stations. Trains will continue to operate between Perth and Victoria Park stations, including Stadium Station on event days, weekends and public holidays. Trains on the Midland, Airport, Fremantle, Joondalup and Mandurah lines will operate as normal.

Changes to Suburban Event Buses → A new limited stops Route 651 will be introduced between Armadale Station and Optus Stadium. The CBD Shuttle (Route 661) will be permanently withdrawn. For passengers wishing to access the city, extra Red CAT services will service Matagarup Bridge or train services are available from Stadium Station to Perth. Route 652 (Mirrabooka) will move to Sailani Ave (over the Matagarup Bridge). Route 653 (Morley) will move to Sailani Ave (over the Matagarup Bridge). There may be minor stand changes at the Stadium Bus Station. The Club is asking everyone to please plan ahead this season and we thank you for your patience in advance. _{For more details, please visit: Transperth Stadium Routes}

Parking → There is no parking available at Optus Stadium on major event days. Optus Stadium has limited ACROD parking bays available for major events. Registrations for ACROD parking are managed by registering online and are issued by email. Register online here.

Drop Off/Pick Up →  333 Victoria Park Dr, Burswood WA 6100 The primary taxi rank is located off Victoria Park Drive. The taxi rank is adjacent to the Eastern Train Station accessible via the underpass. In addition, an eight-stand pick up and drop off facility is located on Nelson Avenue in East Perth for taxi and other on-demand transport services to use e.g. Uber or Ola. Passengers of these services will be able to access the stadium via a short walk across the Matagarup Bridge. Pick up and drop off for private vehicles is not permitted. 

Boat → The Burswood Jetty provides an alternative transport option to access Optus Stadium and the surrounding precinct, allowing vessels to drop patrons directly to the Stadium Park. The jetty is can be utilised for drop-offs and pick-ups from events, with a 15 minute time limit for all public and commercial users.

Walk or Cycle → There are a range of footpaths to Optus Stadium and over 600 bike racks are located around the Stadium Park. Matagarup Bridge: Walkers and cyclists can venture over the Matagarup Bridge, a pedestrian bridge crossing over the Swan River from East Perth. Burswood Peninsula path: Alternatively, the Burswood Peninsula path provides pedestrian and cycle access to the Stadium Park from all directions.

Watch → Free to air on Channel 7mate or stream on Fox Footy or Kayo.

Remember! Sign up with a Digital Membership to get discounted Kayo! Become a member today →

The Lions trailed early in a rollicking final quarter before their key forwards took charge to kick three crucial goals and deliver a vital four points on the road, winning 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74). Star midfielder Lachie Neale typified his team. The Brownlow medallist was beaten early by big-bodied Docker Hayden Young but stayed in the game and finished with a team-high eight clearances and 25 disposals. Midfielder Hugh McCluggage (22 and five inside 50s), and the versatile Cam Rayner (19 and 12 marks) were excellent, while Cameron (two goals and six marks) stood up in important moments. The third quarter was a shootout, with Fremantle getting out to a game-high 15-point lead early before the Lions responded with three on the trot, including an excellent running effort from Jarrod Berry from 50m.

FREMANTLE         2.2   5.4   8.8   11.8 (74)
BRISBANE             1.4   3.5   8.8   11.11 (77) 

GOALS
Fremantle: Sturt 3, Frederick 2, Schultz 2, Amiss, Corbett, Jackson, Treacy
Brisbane: Cameron 2, Daniher 2, Gunston 2, Ah Chee, Berry, Hipwood, McCarthy, McCluggage

Crowd: 37,845 at Optus Stadium

An undermanned Fremantle overcame a false start and an evening of injury carnage to beat Brisbane by 23 points at Optus Stadium, leaving last year's Grand Finalist with an 0-2 record ahead of an Easter Thursday rematch with winless premier Collingwood.

The Dockers were outstanding through the middle stages of Sunday's win and piled on eight unanswered goals to set up their 14.9 (93) to 10.10 (70) win, with star midfielder Caleb Serong setting a new club record with 46 disposals in an outstanding individual performance.

Three second-half injuries left the team counting the cost of an early-season win, however, with defenders Brennan Cox (hamstring), Oscar McDonald (knee) and Karl Worner (head knock) all left sidelined as young forward Jye Amiss escaped a knee scare.

The Lions, meanwhile, will be asking questions of themselves ahead of a Grand Final rematch, having lost their opening two games after establishing early leads before conceding disastrous runs of opposition goals. 

The Dockers conceded the first four goals of the game after a series of calamitous turnovers and 50m penalties left them rattled and 23 points behind after just 12 minutes.

Struggling to defend the Lions' ball movement and unable to find their own forward-half targets, it was hard to see a way back for the home team, who had been pinned in their back half before red-time goals to Bailey Banfield and Sam Switkowski, with a brilliant snap over his shoulder, cut the margin to 13 points at the first break.

The second quarter was a purple onslaught, with the Dockers turning the screws in the midfield and turning their clearance and contested ball ascendency into a five-goal run that turned the game on its head.

The dramatic third quarter presented a window for the Lions to get themselves back into the match as the Dockers nursed injuries to Worner, Amiss and McDonald, but they were unable to take it as others stepped up for Fremantle, with Treacy presenting strongly to kick back-to-back goals while Amiss was off the ground.

By the final change, the Dockers had kicked 11 of the past 12 goals and it was hard to see a path back for the Lions, who had lacked energy and speed with the ball through the middle of the ground and were being outmuscled by the Freo onballers.

Walters dodges free kick for trip

Luke Jackson was lining up for a snap set shot in the pocket when Lions defender Brandon Starcevich ran off the line to try and smother his kick late in the second quarter. Walters was lining up alongside Starcevich and threw his right leg out instinctively to trip his opponent in an action that was missed by the umpires. The Dockers were awarded the crucial goal, but Walters' actions were later highlighted on the match broadcast and will be scrutinised by the Match Review Officer. The veteran forward will escape with a fine if his actions are graded as intentional, low impact and to the body.

Lions' midfield unable cover Neale loss

Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale had 21 clearances and 35 contested possessions across his team's two wins against Fremantle last season, and his absence on Sunday hurt the Lions enormously. Without Neale the Lions' midfield conceded the clearances 22-13 and contested possessions 65-58 in the first half. The Dockers' midfield has a bigger, stronger presence in 2024, and Hayden Young and Nat Fyfe played big roles alongside Serong in outmuscling Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage and Co. 

FREMANTLE         2.2   7.5   11.9   14.9 (93)
BRISBANE             4.3   4.5   5.7   10.10 (70)

GOALS

Fremantle: Amiss 4, Treacy 3, Jackson 2, Frederick, Banfield, Switkowski, Walters, Cox
Brisbane: Daniher 3, Hipwood 3, Bailey 2, Zorko, McCarthy

BEST

Fremantle: Serong, Amiss, Jackson, Ryan, Pearce, Brayshaw, Treacy
Brisbane: Daniher, Hipwood, Dunkley, Bailey, McCluggage, 

INJURIES

Fremantle: McDonald (knee), Worner (head knock), Cox (hamstring)
Brisbane: Gardiner (knee soreness), McKenna (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES

Fremantle: Neil Erasmus (replaced Worner in the third quarter)
Brisbane: Kai Lohmann (replaced Darcy Gardiner at half time)

Crowd: 40,604 at Optus Stadium