AFL fixture: Walyalup (Fremantle) Dockers left off Friday night stage as league announces rest of 2024 draw

Walyalup (Fremantle) have been shut out of Friday night football for the remainder of the season, despite sitting just outside the top-eight, but they will face Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) in a prime time western derby.

The AFL confirmed the dates and times for matches between rounds 16 and 23 on Tuesday. It was revealed earlier the league would can popular Thursday night fixtures for the back end of the season.

The Eagles have been subjected to mostly Sunday fixtures to end their season, but they will play one off-Broadway Friday night clash at home against Gold Coast in round 21.

It is the second of two matches that night, with Western Bulldogs to face Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on the same evening. The Eagles game also conflicts directly with the sole NRL game to be held in WA this season, between the Dolphins and Roosters at HBF Park.

Resurgent Essendon and reigning premiers Collingwood both feature prominently in the remaining rounds and will meet in a heavyweight Friday night clash in round 17.

West Coast host Hawthorn on a Sunday afternoon in round 16, then travel to Melbourne to play the Demons at the MCG seven days later and return to face Brisbane in a run of four straight Sunday games before a Saturday meeting with St Kilda in round 19.

Fremantle play Sydney in round 16, Richmond at home in round 17 and Hawthorn in Launceston in round 18 on consecutive Saturdays, before a Sunday home clash with the Demons and the round 20 derby.

West Coast stunned the Dockers in the season’s earlier derby in a similar timeslot, with their second meeting to begin at 6.10pm AWST.

That game begins 40 minutes after a blockbuster between Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.

West Coast face North Melbourne in Hobart in the early game on a Saturday in round 22 and the Dockers face Essendon on a Sunday and Geelong on a Saturday afternoon to round out their confirmed fixtures.

The Dockers’ meetings with Melbourne at home and Essendon at the MCG will be broadcast nationwide on Channel 7.

The round 24 fixture will be revealed weeks out, to allow the AFL flexibility in its prime time scheduling. Fremantle will face Port Adelaide and West Coast play Geelong.

DOCKERS FIXTURES (all times WA)

• Round 16 v Sydney (SCG), Saturday June 29, 11.45am
• Round 17 v Richmond (Optus Stadium), Saturday July 6, 6.10pm
• Round 18 v Hawthorn (University of Tasmania Stadium), Saturday July 13, 11.45am
• Round 19 v Melbourne (Optus Stadium), Sunday July 21, 1.20pm
• Round 20 v West Coast (Optus Stadium), Saturday July 27, 6.10pm
• Round 21 v Essendon (MCG), Sunday August 4, 1.20pm
• Round 22 v Geelong (Optus Stadium), Saturday August 10, 2.35pm
• Round 23 v GWS Giants (ENGIE Stadium), Saturday August 17, 11.45am

EAGLES FIXTURES (all times WA)

• Round 16 v Hawthorn (Optus Stadium), Sunday June 30, 2.40pm
• Round 17 v Melbourne (MCG), Sunday July 7, 11.10am
• Round 18 v Brisbane (Optus Stadium), Sunday July 14, 2.40pm
• Round 19 v St Kilda (Marvel Stadum), Saturday July 20, 11.45am
• Round 20 v Fremantle (Optus Stadium), Saturday July 27, 6.10pm
• Round 21 v Gold Coast (Optus Stadium), Friday August 2, 6.30pm
• Round 22 v North Melbourne (Blundstone Arena), Saturday August 10, 11.45am
• Round 23 v Carlton (Optus Stadium), Sunday August 18, 2.40pm
• Round 24 v Geelong (GMBHA Stadium), TBC