The Fremantle Dockers return home to take on Essendon this Saturday 24 June at Optus Stadium. This weekend Fremantle will be celebrating Country Round to acknowledge all of our country and regional members and fans. Bouncedown for the clash is 5.25pm, so be sure to make a special night out of your gameday experience with family and friends.

GETTING TO OPTUS STADIUM
Your footy ticket includes travel on all Transperth services for three hours either side of the match, so be prepared and ensure you plan your journey ahead with Transperth’s Journey Planner, please click here for further information. If asked, show your ticket to the driver or inspector. Keep in mind, you must have your football ticket or membership on you to travel for no extra cost.

TICKETING INFORMATION
Members with reserved seats can access their tickets through the Fremantle Football Club app linked to their MyFreo account. Instructions are available for both Android and iPhone users.

Pass holders who have redeemed a ticket or upgraded can access their tickets through the Ticketmaster app. The Fremantle membership team will be at Gate B and E for assistance with entry and general enquiries from 4pm.

Tickets are still available for the general public through Ticketmaster.

SENSORY ROOM
The Purple Hands Foundation and Fremantle Football Club in collaboration with The Autism Association of Western Australia have launched a Sensory Room this season. The Sensory Room provides opportunities for individuals with a disability to access a quiet space during Fremantle home games at Optus Stadium. The room is for people with sensory needs, open to children and adults and individuals with a disability will be prioritised.

To find out more information about the room, who it is for and how to register please click here.

HELP US, HELP YOU
Report anti-social behaviour to Stadium Staff immediately or text 0409 317 771.

KEY TIMES
3.15pm - Purple Playground commences (weather permitting)
3.30pm - Membership services available at Gate B and E
3.45pm - Gates open
4.40pm – 4.55pm - On-field warm-up
5.11pm - Fremantle team entry
5.25pm - Bounce down

MATCH DAY ENTERTAINMENT

AROUND THE GROUND

Cuddly Animal Farm
Located on the Southern Oval, we will have the cuddly animal farm set up as a petting zoo full of all your favourite farm animals.

Player Signing Station
Head to the area behind section 117 from 4.15pm-4.45pm to meet some of your favourite players.

Purple Playground
Due to inclement weather, it is confirmed that we will be cancelling this weekend's Purple Playground.

Airbrush tattoo
Our airbrush tattoo station will be located near Lobby 101, to cover our fans in their favourite Freo designs.

PRE-GAME

Claudia Tripp
Country artist Claudia Tripp began songwriting at the age of seven in her hometown of Kalgoorlie, and at just 14 years old was nominated for the WAM Song of The Year Award. Claudia will be performing covers of some classic hits with a country twist to get everyone in the mood for our Country Round.

WA v SA U18's Boys Curtain Raiser
The AFL Under-18 Boys Championships continue on Saturday when Western Australia takes on South Australia at Optus Stadium in a curtain raiser. Anyone with a ticket to the Fremantle v Essendon game may enter gates early through Gate C at 1.45pm. The match will begin at 2.15pm.

QUARTER TIME

Race The Footy
In 2023 Fremantle fans have the chance to Race the Footy, thanks to Macca’s. If you and a mate would like the chance to Race the Footy register below.

HALF TIME

Best Seats in the House
At half-time, be in your seats and have your phone ready for your chance to win one of three double passes into Bankwest’s best seats in the house! Winners will receive:

• 2 x tickets for the best seats in the house (located in the Bankwest Club)
• Food and beverage during the event including your choice of burger and chips, ice cream and selected wine, beer, cider and non-alcoholic refreshments
• A merchandise pack
• VIP service from a dedicated Optus Stadium attendant
• Access to the Bankwest Club

THREE QUARTER TIME

Nutbush Dance-off
At three quarter time, we will have various line dancing schools from around Perth on the ground to perform the biggest Nutbush you’ve ever seen! We want you to get involved, so be sure to clear the rows, get up out of your seat and Nutbush.

Arrive early and avoid delays
Having your digital ticket ready prior to arrival and get to the stadium early will ensure you are not caught in long queues outside the stadium in the lead up to the game. The scanner to scan your digital ticket(s) is located to the right of the turnstile entry gates, then enter on the left. Please do not bring bags larger than an A4 piece of paper.

Leave your cash at home
Optus Stadium is currently a cashless venue meaning you will need to pay using EFTPOS at all food and beverage outlets.

Optus Stadium Restaurants and Catering
The City View Cafe will be OPEN. However, the Goodwood restaurant will be CLOSED.

The Freo Clubhouse
The Freo Clubhouse in River View Rooms and Sky View Lounge will be open for this round, however you will need to show your ticket stating room access to receive entry. Please note that the Sky View Underscreen Bar will be closed pre-game.

Other key points:

• No cloaking facilities available. Don't bring bulky items.
• Practice good hand hygiene.
• If you feel unwell or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms during the two weeks prior to this weekend’s game, please DO NOT attend. If you begin to feel ill whilst at the game, please make sure to notify an Optus Stadium representative immediately and follow the directions of any venue, club or AFL staff.

For the safety of all patrons, we encourage all attendees to ensure they are well aware of the above points, prior to attending the game. If you have a family or linked account, please pass this information on to all attending.

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please contact the membership services team on (08) 9433 7111 or at membership@fremantlefc.com.au.

Fremantle produced the response that its past fortnight demanded on Saturday night, rediscovering a high-pressure style to notch an impressive 32-point win over Essendon at Optus Stadium.

In what shaped as a season-defining match, the Freo squared their season at 7-7 and kept themselves in the finals hunt, overwhelming the Bombers for long periods to win 14.9 (93) to 9.7 (61).

With ruckman Sean Darcy back from injury, Luke Jackson flying in attack, and midfielders Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw dominating in the centre, Fremantle extended their lead at the first three breaks before a late Essendon rally.

Serong (32 and 10 clearances) was outstanding in a best afield display, adding the icing to his and Fremantle's performance with a last-minute goal from a snap over his shoulder.

Captain Alex Pearce led from the front with his blanketing job on Essendon key forward Peter Wright, who was held goalless after booting five goals in his last start against Carlton.

The Bombers were best-served by midfielders Zach Merrett (29 and a goal) and Nic Martin (26 and one), while star Darcy Parish returned in style, finishing with 24 and a team-high nine clearances after a hot start.

The pressure that would help Fremantle get the game on its terms was nowhere to be seen early, however, as the Bombers got the jump in Perth and kicked back-to-back goals to open.

It was emphatic, too, with Freo kicking five unanswered goals either side of quarter time on the back of increased pressure around the ball and an ability to force turnovers.

Fremantle kept the momentum going throughout the second term, with Jackson influential both in the air and at ground level, and Serong racking up 11 disposals for the quarter as they dominated inside 50s (15-7) and built a 22-point lead at the main break.

The tackling pressure that was turning their form around continued to ramp up and the backline held firm as Pearce continued his blanketing job on a goalless Wright.

When Jackson marked on the boundary and converted his set shot, the result appeared settled and Fremantle took a 39-point lead and all the momentum into the last break.

Three goals from the Bombers to open the final term sent a scare through the Optus Stadium crowd, but milestone player Michael Frederick settled the result in his 50th game with four minutes to play.

Early focus pays off for Freo
Fremantle entered Saturday night having lost 12 of its 13 first quarters this season and was coming off its worst opening term of the season against Greater Western Sydney. The concerning trend looked like continuing after back-to-back Bomber goals to open the game, but the response eventually came from Freo, who lifted around the ball to break a run of five first-quarter 'losses'. Fittingly, it was the red-time goals they have developed a bad habit of conceding that got them over the line, with Michael Walters flying for a terrific contested mark and converting to put them ahead late. 

Freo get their 'Swag' back
The return of Sean Darcy might not have given Fremantle the hitout dominance that was anticipated with Essendon's Sam Draper on the sidelines, but it unlocked the best of Freo, freeing Luke Jackson to play the forward/midfield role he excels in. The man Freo call 'Swaggy' was still influential on his own after two matches out with a hamstring injury, finishing with 24 hitouts and doing valuable bullocking work for his midfielders.

FREMANTLE        3.3     8.7    12.8    14.9 (93)
ESSENDON          2.3     5.3    6.5     9.7 (61)

GOALS
Fremantle: Jackson 3, Amiss 2, Walters 2, Frederick 2, Brayshaw, Johnson, Schultz, Serong, Switkowski
Essendon: Caldwell, Guelfi, Hobbs, Langford, Martin, Menzie, Merrett, Parish, Stringer

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Jackson, Pearce, Brayshaw, Henry, Johnson
Essendon: Merrett, Martin, Hobbs, Parish, Ridley

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Essendon: Zerk-Thatcher (head knock)

LATE CHANGES
Fremantle: Nil
Essendon: Jye Menzie replaced in selected side by Nick Bryan

SUBSTITUTES 
Fremantle: Sam Sturt (replaced Alex Pearce in fourth quarter)
Essendon: Jye Menzie (replaced Nick Bryan in third quarter)

Crowd: 43,063 at the Optus Stadium