Welcome to the Western Watercooler, where we digest the talking points from the weekend’s games – and the highlights, frustrations and silver linings WA footy fans can cling to as the season progresses.
Life couldn’t be any better for Fremantle, sitting a game clear on top of the ladder after claiming a new club record 10th straight win.
An almighty test awaits this week facing two-time defending premiers Brisbane on the road, who will be snarling after a 13-goal belting by GWS.
Meanwhile, West Coast gave Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood and 90,000 fans at the MCG an almighty scare, producing the true definition of an “honourable loss”.
While they didn’t walk off the ground with four points, the performance was one of their best for the season.
Fremantle Dockers
What went right? Murphy Reid.
We already knew this kid was good, but there’s no doubt he’s a bona fide star. The teenager always has time and space, two very rare and valuable traits, allowing him to open the game up with his slick skills and creativity.
When you add in his footy smarts, Reid is fast becoming a weapon for Justin Longmuir. Since being drafted he hasn’t missed a game.
On Friday night, the 35-gamer equalled his career-high 30 touches from the week prior while also had 14 score involvements, a new personal benchmark.
His dominant debut season resulted in the Rising Star award, while his hot-start to 2026 will most certainly have him in All Australian calculations.
Reid’s increased running power has enabled him more midfield minutes, allowing Fremantle more midfield rotations.
No one will forget his mesmerising debut against Geelong last year when he slammed on four goals in six minutes.
The jaw-dropping performances aren’t a flash in the pan and Dockers fans are the beneficiaries.
What went wrong? When you’re sitting on top of the ladder, very little is going wrong.
The Saints hit town on the back of winning nine first quarters and their early defensive pressure troubled the Dockers.
St Kilda’s contested marking was a feature as they won a 10th straight opening quarter.
Ultimately, it was in vain.
As Fremantle has done so well all year, they absorbed their opposition’s best, before unleashing.
Silver lining? The perfect 10.
Justin Longmuir and the 2026 Dockers grabbed themselves a slice of history becoming the first Fremantle team to win 10 straight games.
They were level with the 2006 and 2015 teams prior to their Saints victory, now the current-day Dockers hoping they can go one better than those teams, who both made preliminary finals.
West Coast Eagles
What went right? The Eagles almost pulled off the ultimate gatecrash in Scott Pendlebury’s milestone 433rd match.
In a match where Collingwood circled on the calendar to celebrate their champion, West Coast had nine first-time players on the MCG and 90,000 fans against them.
Despite the odds heavily stacked against them, the Eagles weren’t overawed, didn’t take a backwards step and landed just as many punches as they took.
And it started with their own milestone man Harley Reid in the opening 10 seconds.
As Pendlebury verbally engaged with the young star, the 50-gamer then won the next stoppage, before planting a trademark “don’t argue” on the chest of the Magpies veteran, sending him to the turf.
It set the standard for the day, West Coast standing their ground, as they did in the final minutes, flying the flag for Tylar Young who was unfairly targeted after Jamie Elliott’s unfortunate knee injury.
What went wrong? Their lack of polish.
West Coast could have left the MCG with four points, but unfortunately couldn’t finish their hard work on multiple occasions.
The Eagles won the possessions, inside-50 count and clearances.
But they let themselves down as they failed to capitalise, missing getable shots on goal and being unable to finish off passages of football.
Reuben Ginbey’s controversial reversal free-kick was particularly costly, resulting directly in a Nick Daicos goal.
Silver lining? On the back of their past fortnight, West Coast will fancy themselves in each of the next four games.
Their improved pressure has brought about much improved performances. Their next three games are all at Optus Stadium.
The bottom-of-the-ladder Essendon, 14th-placed Port Adelaide and 13th North Melbourne await.
While progress isn’t always linear, if West Coast continues to put out on the park what they have in recent weeks, they’ll soon be back on the winners’ list.
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