Fremantle Dockers CEO Simon Garlick reveals club is considering asking AFL for annual ANZAC Day fixture

Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick has revealed the club is considering asking the AFL to make their ANZAC Day game at Optus Stadium a permanent fixture. The Dockers will host South Australian rivals Adelaide in the Len Hall Tribute Game on Friday night, hours after Collingwood and Essendon’s traditional fixture at the MCG. It will be the first time Fremantle have featured on ANZAC Day in 10 years, when five games were played on a Saturday. Asked if he would like the annual fixture played on April 25 every year, Garlick conceded: “I have been thinking a fair bit about that.” “All the indications are the crowd is going to be heading towards that 50,000-mark, I think we’re going to be favoured by the weather, it’s obviously a significant game for us (Fremantle) against a team that’s also strong finals aspirants,” Garlick said. “It’s all lining up to be a really big game and flowing straight from the Essendon v Collingwood game, I think there’s an opportunity with the time zone for us to look to make this a stable part of the calendar.” In the past 10 years, the Magpies and Bombers have had five standalone fixtures. No match was played in the COVID-delayed 2020 season, while two extra games were played in 2021 and one other match in both 2022 and 2024. Garlick said the club has not reached out to the AFL - “yet” - about hosting the tribute game annually on ANZAC Day, but a strong crowd could fast-track a bid. “Fixtures (for 2026) aren’t done until October and they’re very much focused on the next version of this year’s draw, on the remaining games that haven’t been scheduled yet,” Garlick said. “But I think with what comes of Friday night is going to make a pretty compelling case for us.” WA Minister for Veterans Paul Papalia was supportive of the idea, saying it would not impact on the success of the traditional fixture. “I think West Australians deserve an ANZAC Day event, a game of their own,” Papalia said. “As Simon indicated, the time zone means it’s not going to diminish the one on the east coast (Collingwood v Essendon) at all. “And I think you’ll see West Australians will turn out. The AFL are a great organisation, I think they’ll recognise a need to have an event of this nature on an annual basis.” Now in its 28th year, Fremantle have held the Len Hall Tribute Match, named after Western Australia’s last surviving WWI Gallipoli veteran Len Hall and played on or near ANZAC Day, since 1996. This Friday, the club will introduce the Arthur Leggett Medal, named in honour of the late WWI veteran Arthur Leggett, who passed away on April 6. The inaugural medal will be awarded to the player judged best afield in the club’s clash with the 4-2 Crows. Fremantle are coming off an upset loss to the previously winless Melbourne on Saturday, which has seen the Dockers tumble out of the top eight. Garlick admitted the club was disappointed with its start to the season but said Friday’s game presented an opportunity to get their campaign back on track. “Whilst 3-3 isn’t exactly where we want to be, we’re still in a really strong position for us to build on a really important month of footy as we head towards a bye and mid-year,” Garlick said. “But I’ve got an incredible amount of faith in our playing group and our whole football department that they can put on a good showing on Friday night and start to build some momentum.”