By George Cooke

Each year, WA footy fans eagerly anticipate one of the biggest matchups of the season—the Western Derby. But as Derby 60 approaches, the excitement feels different. With both the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers yet to secure a win after two rounds, fans are left wondering: Is it worth attending, and whose game will it be? 

The Eagles currently sit at the bottom of the ladder under new coach Andrew McQualter and with rising star Harley Reid. Hopes for a redemption season were high after a string of disappointing years, but those dreams were quickly shattered.

In Round 1 at Optus Stadium, West Coast suffered a humiliating 87-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns, resembling their struggling, coachless days rather than a team with a fresh game plan. The horror show continued in Round 2, despite a promising first half against Brisbane. The Eagles led by 24 points at halftime, only to collapse in the final term as the reigning premiers stormed home with a 19-point victory at the Gabba.

Much of the criticism has been directed at Harley Reid, a highly touted prospect who has now been labeled “ordinary” by some fans and commentators. Instead of being praised for his marks and goals, he’s drawn attention for off-ball antics, including faking injuries and taunting Brisbane fans. With Reid under scrutiny and the team still struggling for cohesion, Eagles fans are questioning whether any improvement is on the horizon.

The Dockers entered 2025 hoping to bounce back from a disappointing end to last season. Coach Justin Longmuir promised a refined game plan, and the club made a major trade move by bringing in Shai Bolton from Richmond.

However, early signs haven’t been promising. A 43-point loss to the Indigenous All-Stars in the pre-season raised eyebrows, though Longmuir assured fans it was just a “vanilla performance.” But as the season kicked off, Fremantle continued to struggle. Despite strong individual moments—such as the debut of Murphy Reid and the return of captain Luke Jackson after off-season exit rumors—the team’s second-half fade-outs against Geelong and Sydney have frustrated supporters to no bounds. 

With both teams sitting winless at the bottom of the ladder, this Derby is a true battle of the struggling. Will one team break the drought and define their trajectory for the season? Or could we see the unthinkable—a draw, cementing the mediocrity WA footy fans have endured so far?

One thing is certain: The Western Derby will reveal just how much trouble these teams are really in.