So Perth

The Cook Government has released Western Australia’s first Perpetrator Response Framework, setting out a state-wide approach for how government agencies, community services, and specialist providers work with people who use family and domestic violence.

It arrives alongside updated Practice Standards for Perpetrator Intervention and the launch of WorkforceFDV, a $6 million entity funded over three years to train and develop the state’s family and domestic violence workforce.

The Practice Standards have been reviewed to reflect changes in legislation, policy, evidence, and practice, with a stronger emphasis on victim-survivor safety, perpetrator accountability, cultural responsiveness, and interagency co-ordination. The Framework is built on the position that ending family and domestic violence takes more than supporting victim-survivors, and requires a co-ordinated response that identifies, challenges, and addresses the behaviour of the person using violence.

“The new perpetrator resources will help provide strong, consistent responses to strengthen accountability and protect victim-survivors,” said Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

The Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing will deliver WorkforceFDV in partnership with Stopping Family Violence, the Council of Aboriginal Services WA, the Aboriginal Health Council WA, Community Skills WA, Professor Donna Chung, and WorkUP. It will build on the training already available to frontline workers, focusing on identifying risk and supporting victim-survivors.

“WorkforceFDV will boost the capability across the sector, providing a dedicated focus on consistent, quality service provision to victim-survivors and perpetrators,” Stojkovski said.

“Strengthening the capacity and capability of the people who work to prevent and respond to family and domestic violence is critical to the reform’s success,” added Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing CEO Alison Evans.

“We know that to deliver sustainable long-term reform we must develop the specialist family and domestic violence and prevention workforces and grow the family and domestic violence capabilities of the broader workforces that intersect with family and domestic violence.”

Stopping Family Violence CEO Damian Green said the launch of WorkforceFDV alongside the Framework and the updated Practice Standards were important steps forward.

“We hope to connect these important pieces of work in implementation, ensuring we have the right foundations to embed high-quality, evidence-based responses for all workforces supporting families impacted by family and domestic violence in Western Australia,” he said.

Implementation is where the State’s last major perpetrator accountability measure came unstuck. Laws passed in 2024 made electronic monitoring effectively mandatory for serious and repeat family violence offenders granted bail, but within months the Department of Justice had conceded that monitoring was not feasible in parts of regional Western Australia, and at least three offenders were released on bail without a tracker. The State Government later committed around $23 million over four years for 38 extra full-time equivalent staff across the Justice Department and WA Police to manage the scheme.

Where to get help

The Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline is on 1800 007 339 and the Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline is on 1800 000 599, both 24 hours a day. 1800RESPECT is on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.

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WWE is coming back to Perth this December for a three-day weekend takeover at RAC Arena, with Wrestlepalooza: Perth on December 12th, SmackDown the night before, and Raw on the 14th.

It’s the first weekend under a new three-year agreement between WWE and the State Government through Tourism WA, which guarantees a Perth WWE takeover every year through to 2028. The festivities spill out of the arena and across the city again, with WWE Superstores, Superstar meet-and-greets, and community events running across the weekend.

“It’s fantastic news that my government has secured this three-year deal that has WWE returning to Perth through to 2028,” said Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.

“Both times we have hosted WWE in Perth, the atmosphere was electric – the city came alive with fans from near and far, hotels were full, restaurants were buzzing, and there was an incredible energy wherever you went.

“I look forward to seeing that same excitement return over the next three years starting from this December.”

This will be Perth’s third run at WWE. Elimination Chamber: Perth at Optus Stadium in 2024 pulled more than 18,000 out-of-state visitors, and last year’s Crown Jewel: Perth weekend at RAC Arena drew more than 12,500. Together, the State Government says the two events have generated more than $58 million for the WA economy.

“This is a huge result for Western Australia and a major boost for our sporting events calendar, with WWE locked in for the next three years,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Events like this bring world-class action to Perth while creating incredible experiences for local fans, families, and athletes who have a passion for wrestling.”

The State Government hasn’t made public what it’s paying for the three-year deal. Tourism WA has consistently declined to reveal what previous WWE events cost, with then Tourism Minister Reece Whitby telling the ABC in 2025 that disclosing the numbers would undercut WA’s position competing against other states and countries for future events.

How to get tickets

A pre-sale opens at 10:00 am on September 9th, and you need to register your interest with WWE beforehand to get access. Three-event combo tickets covering all three nights go on general sale at 10:00 am on September 10th.

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Good character references will no longer be able to be used by courts as a mitigating factor at sentencing in Western Australia, under reforms announced by the Cook Government today.

Drafting was already well progressed on a Bill removing the references in child abuse cases, acting on a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. That legislation will now be expanded to cover every offence.

The expansion follows the case of Jeffrey David Spinner, a Western Power manager sentenced in June to five years in jail for raping a colleague on a work trip in 2024. Eight of his colleagues gave the court positive character references, one describing him as having a strong moral compass, and the sentencing judge found the rape was out of character. Three of those employees have since been stood down pending a review ordered by Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

The Government’s announcement makes no mention of that case, instead pointing to growing concerns that offenders with professional standing, community status, or strong personal networks are perceived to get more favourable treatment by arranging references from friends, family, and colleagues.

“I have had meetings with advocates for victim-survivors and heard how distressing it can be when a criminal’s professional standing and community reputation are used to try to reduce their sentence,” Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said.

“This is particularly distressing in cases of child abuse and sexual assault when a perpetrator’s friends and colleagues may be unaware of the perpetrator’s sinister behaviour.”

The change won’t prevent courts from weighing an offender’s prospects of rehabilitation, the absence of prior convictions, or their personal circumstances. The Government says it keeps sentencing focused on the offence rather than the offender’s reputation, and reduces the scope for well-connected people to gain an advantage.

WA is not the first state down this path. New South Wales passed an all-offences ban in June, after an earlier attempt was amended in the upper house to cover sexual offences only and had to be reintroduced. Victoria announced in February that it intends to scrap the references across all criminal cases.

The NSW Bar Association opposed the change there, arguing sentencing involves assessing the offender as a whole person rather than the offence alone, and that removing good character altogether makes outcomes less responsive to individual circumstances. The Law Society of NSW and Legal Aid NSW raised similar concerns.

Buti said the WA legislation is still being written.

“We have begun drafting these important reforms and will consult the profession and other key stakeholders during that process,” he said.

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Round two of the Kids Access All Areas Vouchers program opens this week through the ServiceWA app. Parents and guardians can reserve one $50.00 voucher per child aged five to 15, up to four children, for a maximum of $200.00 per household.

If you claimed a voucher in round one, you’re not eligible this time. The vouchers are limited to one per child for the life of the program.

Round one opened on December 11th, and every voucher had been allocated by early January. The program is budgeted to give out 50,000 vouchers over two years, with the first 25,000 issued in that opening round, and they go out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The vouchers work at more than 100 venues and providers across the State, more than 40 of them regional, and cover paid ticketed events across circus, theatre, dance, music, opera, and visual arts. State Theatre Centre, Scitech, Crown Theatre, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre are on the approved list, with the full roll-call on the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport site.

“This program, along with initiatives like the WA Student Assistance Payment, is aimed at providing targeted cost-of-living relief to families, while also supporting WA based arts and creative organisations and helping to build a thriving creative sector,” Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said.

“With more than 100 participating venues and providers across WA, including many in regional communities, families have plenty of opportunities to use their vouchers close to home or while exploring different parts of the State.

“Increasing participation in arts and cultural experiences provides important educational and wellbeing benefits for children and young people, helping to spark creativity, build confidence and create lasting memories while supporting their learning and development.”

You have until May 31st, 2027 to buy tickets and claim the rebate, which covers three school holiday periods.

How to claim one

Reserve your voucher in the ServiceWA app under the Offers tab, buy tickets to an eligible event from an approved venue or provider, then return to the app and upload the tax invoice to claim the rebate.

The rebate arrives after the purchase, so you will need to pay for the tickets in full and then get the $50.00 back afterwards.

If you can’t use the ServiceWA app, there’s an alternative claim form that takes ten to 15 business days to process.

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Two new safety camera trailers are now based in Bunbury full-time, joining WA’s existing fleet of eight operating across the Perth metropolitan area, the Mid West, and the Great Southern. They detect seatbelt, mobile phone, and speeding offences, and they can be deployed to any location in the South West at any time.

Great Southern cameras recorded an 82% reduction in the overall rate of offending between June 2025 and July 2026, including an 85% drop in mobile phone offences and 83% for speeding. Mid West cameras recorded a 72% reduction between July 2025 and July 2026. Across the State, seatbelt-related fatalities fell from a ten-year average of 23% of road deaths to 13.8% in the year after the cameras arrived, alongside education and awareness campaigns.

“Over the past five years, 32 people died in road crashes on average in the South West region,” said Road Safety Minister Jessica Stojkovski.

“Every seatbelt not worn or worn incorrectly, every mobile phone used behind the wheel and every kilometre over the speed limit creates an unnecessary risk and puts lives in danger.

“A little risk-taking is never okay — receiving a fine pales in comparison to the devastating impact on a community when a life is lost.”

The trailers were funded through the $80 million Road Safety Reform Package announced in December 2025, which draws on the Road Trauma Trust Account. All safety camera fine revenue goes into that account, which is legislatively required to be spent on reducing deaths and injuries on WA roads. 

“I get frequent requests from constituents to advocate for improved road safety outcomes,” said Bunbury MLA Don Punch. “This investment will help support safer roads for the South West and I am delighted to be part of a Cook Labor Government delivering for the local community.”

Fines, appeals, and a review

Between October 8th, 2025, when enforcement started, and May 4th this year, 192,229 infringements were issued across WA, and 6,114 of those were later withdrawn for 3,413 drivers, according to figures from the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Around 60% of drivers who challenged an infringement had it withdrawn.

More than half of the review requests have related to seatbelts. Drivers carry legal responsibility for passengers, so they have been fined for children and adult passengers who removed or incorrectly adjusted a belt mid-trip. Parliament was told in March that the department had actioned 2,194 requests to review seatbelt infringements, and that 934 appeals relating to passengers had succeeded. The Road Safety Commission is reviewing the legislation, processes, and systems behind driving offences, including whether a passenger seatbelt infringement should be issued to the passenger rather than the driver.

Western Australians are forecast to pay an extra $440 million in traffic fines over the next four years, largely because of the cameras.

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$2.00 oysters at a rooftop bar at Elizabeth Quay, a $12.00 chicken katsu at Yagan Square, and a $20.00 express lunch on the water at Barrack Square. August has been a good month for eating out cheaply. Here are some great deals around Perth for you to try before the end of winter.

Oyster Hour at HQ Bar + Kitchen

Freshly shucked oysters are $2.00 each from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day except Sundays at HQ Bar & Kitchen’s rooftop on The Esplanade, looking out over Elizabeth Quay. 

Beer Buffet at Hiss & Smoke

Two hours of flowing Sapporo Premium Lager at the Yagan Square venue Hiss & Smoke costs $40.00 a person from Tuesday to Thursday, and $60.00 on Friday and Saturday. It’s perfect for groups, so book a table.

$35.00 Express Lunch at Samuels on Mill

Five seasonal mains to choose from and a house beverage, for $35.00 on weekdays, at Samuels on Mill, inside the Parmelia Hilton on Mill Street. It’s perfect for a quick lunch break on days when you want something nice but still gotta get shit done.

The Quickie

The Lucky Shag’s new express lunch menu is $20.00, served Monday to Friday from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Barrack Square. You can also add a small house wine or a house middy for $8.00, or a soft drink for $5.00.

Wednesday Chicken Katsu Kare

Hiss & Smoke runs one of the best lunchtime specials in the CBD: Godzilla Kare for $12.00 every Wednesday from midday. That’s a crisp chicken cutlet, Japanese curry, and rice, and we can confirm, it’s good.

Escape Menu Tuesday to Friday

Intuition Wine & Kitchen in Subiaco serves an Escape Menu at $79.00 a head for midweek dinner, Tuesday to Friday, with a regularly changing menu. You can also BYO, so grab your favourite and head down.

Sammy’s Hour

It’s the after-work drinks excuse you’ve been looking for. House wine, tap beer, or a spirit for $9.00 at Samuels on Mill, weekdays between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. 

$35.00 Pizza and Beer Special

Any pizza on the menu and a four-pack of Otherside’s Festive for $35.00 at Otherside of Nowhere in West Leederville. Get this deal from Wednesday to Sunday each week.

Winter Wine Series with Vasse Felix

Parmelia Hilton has built a stay package around Vasse Felix for the winter: a curated wine experience for two, breakfast at Samuels on Mill, and complimentary valet parking.

The post Nine Perth Food Deals To Try Before The End Of August appeared first on So Perth

We asked what you love most about Rottnest Island, and almost four thousand of you answered. Almost a quarter of you said it was the quokkas. We get it; that’s our favourite thing on Rottnest Island as well.  

“The quokkas — they deserve a raise. They’ve been Rotto’s marketing team for years,” one reader said. Another called them “tiny, fluffy influencers who pose for every camera, steal the spotlight, and somehow make you feel like the background extra”. One reader wrote: “I’m sure it’s 99% of the answers, but the quokkas of course.”

A few of you have clearly spent time watching them work a crowd. “Seeing the quokkas in the bakery. They are like little furry zombies, always persisting ahead despite getting turned away.” “Quokkas stealing my snacks with zero remorse.” “Watching cheeky quokkas sneak into areas they’re not supposed to be.”

And one reader is there for the joeys: “Seeing the families of quokkas and the beautiful joeys just coming out of the pouch and retreating there close to their mothers.”

Quokkas aside, here’s what the rest of you told us.

The beaches Credit: Shutterstock

The many beaches, bays, and coves of Rottnest Island came up in about 900 answers. WA is spoilt when it comes to us having the best beaches in the world, and Rottnest is no different. The bigger question is: which is your favourite beach on Rottnest?

“There’s always at least one calm beach for snorkelling, no matter which way the wind is blowing.”

“The colour of the water in Geordie Bay in summer.” 

“The long empty beaches in winter.”

“The quiet, the fact you can be on your own beach with thousands of people on the island.”

Bikes and no cars

The absence of cars is one of the best parts. Being able to walk or cycle anywhere on the island, without the noise and pollution of cars, is wonderful.

“Cycling around the island first thing in the morning before anyone is awake. Feeling like I have the whole entire island to myself.” 

“The freedom. Seeing the children on their bikes with trainer wheels, still in their pyjamas and a snorkel mask on. Sums up the spirit perfectly.”

“Riding my bike around the island and getting absolutely cooked in the sun and munched on by flies, but the beaches are worth it.”

“A spectacular bay awaits after each hill climb.”

The wildlife

Snorkelling is something that is often forgotten when it comes to visiting Rottnest Island, even though it’s one of the best snorkelling areas in WA.

“Finding brilliant creatures under the sea, from vibrant nudis to ancient crays.”

“Snorkelling the crystal clear waters at Henrietta Rocks while viewing the marine life’s home at the shark wreck.” 

“I love the wildlife — quokkas, seals, bird watching, dolphins and fish.”

“Bike riding to the West End to check out the osprey.” 

“The peacocks roaming free, my favourite bird.”

Slowing down

For many, it’s just the feeling rather than a place, an animal, or an activity: peace, quiet, relaxing, switching off, and slowing down.

“The moment I step onto the island, something in my chest loosens. My shoulders drop before I’ve even noticed they were raised.”

“Looking back at the city and realising that I have left the rat race.”

“The peaceful evenings when day trippers leave the island.”

Overseas, without the passport

An island close by but feels like somewhere much further away.

“No passport. No jet lag. To be able to travel just 19 kilometres and discover a destination that feels a world away.”

“It’s my backyard island that my kids love. It’s better than taking them overseas.”

“A world-class island location, without the pomp and pretension of its global equivalents.”

“Boasting to UK family via photos how beautiful Rottnest is and how lucky we are.”

The bakery, the pub, and everything in between

Food and drink was a popular suggestion, and the bakery beat every restaurant on the island combined.

The bakery answers were oddly precise about which item. Cinnamon scrolls, jam doughnuts, pies, pizza bread, vanilla slices, and fresh bread all had their advocates. 

“I know I should say the relaxing moments by the beach, enjoying a glass of wine at sunset, but it really is the lamingtons from the bakery.”

“Those jam doughnuts at the bakery, and I have to walk there.”

“Little Parakeet Bay snorkelling, riding around the island, seagulls stealing my chocolate éclair from the bakery.”

“After a day of exploring the beautiful coast and swimming, heading to the pub for a meal and thinking how bloody lucky we are to have Rotto on our doorstep.”

“Wednesday quiz nights at Hotel Rottnest, seeing a mix of locals and holiday-goers getting together.”

Kids, and a version of childhood people recognise

A lot of the answers focused on family, with many describing the island as a place where children can behave the way their parents did.

“Letting the kids play in the street with the neighbours’ kids. It’s something that has been mostly lost from our modern lives.”

“An 80s childhood for my kids where they run (ride) free”.

“We have been visiting Rottnest for over 60 years. That is four generations of family memories.” 

“In 98 I had my Year 7 camp for graduation, and in 2025 so did my youngest daughter in Year 6. The stories she told were almost like my own memories.” 

“Memories of weekends going over on my Dad’s boat that he built himself.” 

“I used to live there when I was five or six. My dad worked there as a police officer.”

Winter, and the hours after the last ferry

Sometimes, the island is better when fewer people are on it.

“When the last ferry leaves, you can feel the island breathe again. And you breathe with it.”

“The peaceful evenings when day trippers leave the island.” 

“The serenity after 5:00 pm.”

“Going for a swim at The Basin in crisp blue clear water in the morning before the ferries drop day visitors.”

“A winter weekend on Rottnest is my favourite thing. We just had three days there last week, and the peacefulness of the island at this time of year is hard to beat.”

“The long empty beaches in winter.”

“The views, the blues, and the hues of winter.”

The history

Then there’s the island’s history..

“The fact that the island recognises its Indigenous history more these days.”

“The true history is finally being told, plus the natural beauty.” 

“The array of native plants that tell the story of how Aboriginal people used Country, and shows its significance that we so often overlook.”

“I’m impressed with the volunteers who take the time to meet and inform people of the history and the wildlife.”

The one-off answers

“The lighthouse. My husband proposed to me there.”

“My grandparents met there while they were in the army.”

“Seeing the small seedlings I’ve helped plant to regenerate areas grow into lush green spaces.”

“The unique-to-Rottnest smell of the salt lake, sand, and pine trees.”

“Walking around at night and smelling barbecues cooking.”

“Seeing how bright the stars are in the night sky.”

“A fond memory from a time I visited as a teenager. My friends and I got matching shark plushies on the island. I’ve had Silver the shark ever since.”

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The Queen’s Arms opens on Queen Street in mid-September, in the heritage-listed 1928 building that was once home to The Flour Factory. It’s the fifth venue from Nokturnl, the group behind Stories, The Beaufort, The Old Synagogue, and The Station.

Across three levels, it will hold 500 people and feature two bars, more than 30 beer taps, several dining areas, a beer garden overlooking Raine Square, and a rooftop terrace. Quiz nights, Sunday carveries, and wall-to-wall live sport are all part of the plan, and upstairs there’ll be a second venue called The Corgi Club running live music, interactive darts, and bottomless high tea on Friday and Saturday nights. 

While there have been a few British-themed bars, like W Churchill, the last traditional British pub in the city centre was the Moon and Sixpence, which closed in 2017 to make way for the Raine Square redevelopment. Western Australia has the highest concentration of British-born residents in the country at ~8.9% of the population, so The Queen’s Arms should be well received.

“We didn’t want to just build a themed venue,” said Nokturnl co-founder Drew Flanagan. “We wanted to create somewhere that genuinely feels like you’ve walked into a proper British local. The best British pubs have personality. They’re full of stories, history and little details that make every visit different — and that’s exactly what we’re creating here.”

The kitchen is doing fish and chips, steak and ale pie, bangers and mash, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, sticky toffee pudding, and a Sunday carvery with Yorkshire puddings. Tetley’s, Old Speckled Hen, Tennent’s, and London Pride are pouring alongside Australian beers, and Nokturnl has an exclusive house lager brewed for the pub.

Rather than shipping in a themed fit-out, Nokturnl is asking Perth to help be part of the story. Anyone with British memorabilia, family heirlooms, or nostalgic keepsakes can sell, loan, or donate them for display.

“The best pubs aren’t built overnight — they’re curated over decades,” co-founder Ross Drennan said. “Every photograph, beer mirror and old poster has a story behind it and that’s what gives a pub its personality.”

Nokturnl did something similar at The Station in South Perth, which is decorated with WA police memorabilia donated by the WA Police Historical Society and the families of former officers.

The pub will be run by UK-born Michelle Vas, who has been in the Nokturnl hospitality group for a while, most recently as assistant venue manager at The Beaufort. “It’s funny how life comes full circle,” Vas said. “I always dreamed of running a proper British pub one day and now I get to help build and create one, right here in Perth. I can’t wait to give people that feeling of walking into a local where everyone belongs.”

Her assistant venue manager is Manchester-born James ‘Haddy’ Hadfield, who moved to Perth three years ago and helped open Stories. “Being born and bred in Manchester, proper pubs have always been a big part of home for me,” Haddy said. “I’m excited to bring a little taste of that to Perth — especially for all of us Brits who’ve been missing it.”

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A new restaurant from Bangkok chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij, better known as Chef Pam, opens at Crown Perth next year. It’ll be called Khao San Sek.

Chef Pam was named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025 and Asia’s Best Female Chef 2024. Her Bangkok restaurant Potong took a Michelin star in its first year of trading and reached number 13 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2025. Perth and Sydney will be her first restaurants in Australia. Here’s what we know so far.

“Chef Pam is one of the most acclaimed chefs in the world, and we are proud to welcome her to a city so connected to Asia and that has such a strong affection for Thai flavours,” said Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira.

The Perth venue borrows its name and its thinking from Chef Pam’s restaurant on Song Wat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown, where the menu is organised around five ingredients she treats as sacred: rice, chilli, coconut, fish sauce, and palm sugar. Dishes are grouped by those building blocks rather than the curry-and-stir-fry categories most Thai menus fall into. The name refers to the stray grains that fall to the floor during rice milling, which are then blessed by monks.

“Opening my first Australian restaurants is incredibly meaningful,” she said. “My current venues are about respecting the foundations of Thai cuisine and expressing them in a modern and personal way. Australia’s beautiful local produce makes it the perfect destination for this next chapter.”

The Sydney restaurant, SEK, is taking a different approach: a chef-led degustation with the kitchen in full view, wine matched to each course, and a Thai dessert trolley to finish.

When Björn Frantzén’s two Australian restaurants were announced in July, Sydney got Én, a fine-dining room above the harbour, and Perth got Brasserie Astoria, the group’s more casual à la carte format.

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Fremantle kicked five straight goals in the last quarter to beat Adelaide 16.16 (112) to 13.10 (88) at Optus Stadium on Friday night, taking the minor premiership for only the second time in the club’s history and the first since 2015.

Jye Amiss kicked five, Isaiah Dudley three, and Caleb Serong had 29 disposals, 12 clearances, and two goals. Josh Treacy pulled down 11 marks. A crowd of 55,010 watched Fremantle close out a perfect 12-0 home season, and the win was the club’s 19th of the home-and-away year, equalling the West Australian record West Coast set in 1991.

Adelaide didn’t hand it over. The Crows led early, and Izak Rankine finished with a game-high 39 disposals, ten clearances, and 717 metres gained. “When it was in the balance, we just made some crucial errors. Some of it was execution, just skill, handballs, missed handballs,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said.

Longmuir keeps the lid on

“We’ve set our season up. That’s the way I look at it. It’s a good achievement. I’m really proud of the players of how they bounced back after last week. We’ve put ourselves in a good position,” Justin Longmuir said.

Last week was a four-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG, only Fremantle’s third of the year and a reminder that the gap between this side and the rest of the top six is narrower than the ladder makes it look. Captain Alex Pearce played out Friday night after hyper-extending an already heavily strapped left knee, which Fremantle fans will be watching closely over the next fortnight.

What top spot means for the Dockers

Under the new finals system, the top six sit out the wildcard round while seventh plays tenth and eighth plays ninth. Fremantle then host a qualifying final at Optus Stadium, and winning it earns a home preliminary final. Two finals at their own ground with a double chance underneath them is the best September position the club has ever held.

It needs to count for something this time. Fremantle have never won a premiership. They have played in one grand final, in 2013, losing to Hawthorn by 15 points, and the last time they finished on top, in 2015, the season ended with a preliminary final loss at home to the same club. Finishing first has not been the missing piece, but this time around they have never had more star power and a much better balanced team. 

We think it’s time to officially pop the lid off; it’s Fremantle’s to lose in 2026.

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