Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Fremantle Dockers will host Adelaide Crows under Friday night lights on August 14 after the AFL rewarded their strong season and rising television appeal. The match will open the penultimate round, with the full fixtures for the final two rounds due to be released on Wednesday.
It will be Fremantle Dockers’ seventh Friday night appearance of the season, alongside three Thursday night matches. All but two of those evening games have been staged at Optus Stadium, where the club has attracted large crowds throughout its successful campaign.
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Fremantle Dockers Rewarded With Prime Slot
Channel 7 reporter Tom Morris confirmed the matchup before the AFL’s official fixture announcement.
“The Friday night game is locked in, and it will be Freo and Adelaide,” Tom Morris said.
“How appetising is that? The Dockers vs the Crows, prime time Friday night.”
Fremantle Dockers have broken the Optus Stadium record for the largest non-derby crowd twice this season. Their average home attendance is above 50,000, placing them behind only Collingwood and Carlton.
Previous Meeting Delivered Late Drama
Fremantle Dockers defeated Adelaide Crows by two points when the teams met in Round 4. Alex Pearce sealed the win with a late smother on James Borlase during the tense closing stages.
That result adds extra interest to the rematch as both clubs approach the final weeks of the AFL home-and-away season. Official fixture information is available through the AFL website.