FREMANTLE mayor Ben Lawver wants to win both the Fremantle Dockers women’s and men’s teams back to Fremantle, while acknowledging Fremantle Oval’s deterioration prompted the AFLW side’s decision to move all home games to Cockburn.
The Dockers announced this week the club would play at Cockburn ARC Oval from its 2026 season opener in August.
Mr Lawver said he was disappointed by the move but understood some of the reasons behind it.
“I’m also disappointed that Freo fans, in our community, won’t be able to attend games at their spiritual home – their natural home ground.”
Mr Lawver said Fremantle Oval’s condition was “one of the factors” behind the relocation.
“Right now we have a business case for that oval redevelopment, we’re aligning that with the state government requirements as well, and then we hope to get that submitted soon,” he said.
“If that business case gets accepted, then hopefully that will come with funding, and then we can get on with doing the oval, and then maybe not just the women, I’d like to see the men come back as well.”
The Dockers said the move formed part of the club’s redevelopment masterplan for Cockburn ARC Oval.
Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick said the club needed to continue investing in the women’s program “from a high-performance perspective”.
“As the AFLW competition continues to grow, it’s essential that we provide elite high-performance facilities for our athletes that reflect the professionalism of the game and the people playing it, and that is what Cockburn ARC Oval provides,” Mr Garlick said.
The club said recent upgrades at Cockburn ARC Oval included “dedicated AFLW changerooms, additional community changerooms and an undercover 250 seat spectator terrace”.
Mr Garlick said the club’s “connection to Fremantle, as a place, is part of our DNA and that will never change”.
Mr Lawver said he first became aware the women’s team could be leaving during a conversation with Mr Garlick earlier this year.
“When I went to the Dockers breakfast at their season launch, I actually sat a table adjacent to Simon Garlick, and was introduced to him,” he said.
“It was first time I met the guy, and the first words out of my mouth were, ‘What can we do to bring the Dockers back to Fremantle?’
“He replied in reference to the women’s team, which I found a bit interesting, and so that was my first inkling that maybe a decision had been made for them to move.
“We are still a sponsor of the the women’s Dockers, and that sponsorship requires them to play some games at home,” he said.
Mr Lawver said the move would have an economic impact on Fremantle, but under a new events policy there was scope to run more events at the oval.
“Yeah, it’ll have an impact, that’s for certain,” he said.
Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk also expressed disappointment about the decision.
“As the Member for Freo, I’m not stoked the Fremantle Dockers AFLW team are moving to Cockburn,” Ms McGurk wrote on Facebook.
“It’s no secret that the oval needs some love (including better changerooms) and the club deserves facilities that will enable them to continue to take their elite game to the next level.”
Ms McGurk said she remained committed to seeing the team return.
“Like so many of us, I love seeing them play right here in the middle of Freo – it’s a winter tradition,” she wrote.
“But I am committed to winning them back to Freo!”
by STEVE GRANT