Western Derby
 |
|
| First meeting | 14 May 1995 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | 7 August 2016 |
| Next meeting | 29 April 2017 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 44 |
| All-time series (AFL only) |
 West Coast 24 wins Fremantle 20 wins |
| Largest victory |
West Coast – 117 points (15 April 2000) Fremantle – 75 points (1 August 2010) |
The Western Derby /ˈdɜːrbiː/ is the name given to the Australian rules football match between the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League (AFL). As both teams are based in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, the term "derby" is used to describe the match. It has become one of the most important matches for football in Western Australia, with former South Fremantle and West Coast player, and former West Coast coach John Worsfold claiming that in the week before a derby that it is the main topic in Perth.
It's obviously different to the build-up of any normal game... We don't care what else is happening in the country, which is great."
In 2004, during the 175th-anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Swan River Colony, the Western Derby was named as one of twelve "Heritage Icons", in recognition of "football's key social and historical importance to the State".
Referring to a melee during the Round 21, 2000 Derby, Channel Nine sports reporter Michael Thomson said the match had divided Western Australia and the "football landscape in WA has been changed forever."
There are two Western Derbies every year during the home and away season, always being held at Subiaco Oval. There has never been a Western Derby finals match.
West Coast were the dominant team during Fremantle's initial years, winning the first nine derbies, however since Fremantle won their first Western Derby in July 1999, it has been twenty wins to fifteen in Fremantle's favour. West Coast are the current holders of the Western Derby Trophy, having beaten Fremantle in round 20 of the 2016 AFL season.
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