A Friday night primetime stage will be the setting for Walyalup’s (Fremantle’s) final home game of the season, with the Dockers to host reigning premiers Brisbane in what looms as a finals-shaping showdown.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL DOCKERS & EAGLES LATE-YEAR FIXTURE

The August 15 clash was revealed as the AFL locked in its fixture timeslots for rounds 16 to 23, which also include a home Friday night slot for winless Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) in round 17.

All eyes will be on Freo across the closing stretch of the season as they look to overcome a mediocre start and reach September for the second time in Justin Longmuir’s six campaigns in charge.

The round 23 clash with the Lions comes amid a testing late-year schedule, with the Dockers set to enter that game off consecutive six-day breaks with interstate travel. Freo host Carlton in a Sunday slot in round 21, before travelling to Adelaide to take on the Power the following Saturday and then returning home to host Brisbane.

Depending on the Dockers’ success over the coming months, the match-up with Lachie Neale’s Lions could mark the final WA appearance for one or both of out-of-contract veteran duo Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters.

The second western derby will be held in round 20 on Saturday July 26, with a 2.15pm bouncedown. It will be the first Saturday afternoon derby since 2014.

As revealed by The West Australian earlier this week, Freo’s round 16 clash against St Kilda - Ross Lyon’s first game against the Dockers in WA since being axed in 2019 - will take place on a Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles will host flag contenders GWS at Optus Stadium on Friday July 4, with that match coming off a six-day break following a clash with high-flying Collingwood at Marvel Stadium the round prior.

The WA club’s most winnable game on paper, the round 19 match-up with fellow strugglers Richmond, will have a Saturday night setting at Optus on July 19.

Both of the Friday night late-year clashes for the Dockers and Eagles have been scheduled as double-headers, with matches in Melbourne to provide some overlap earlier in the evening.

Round 24 will be scheduled close to the end of the season. That weekend will pit the Dockers against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, while the Eagles will clash with club legend Dean Cox for the first time in his role as Sydney coach.

FLOATING FIXTURE CONFIRMED: ROUND 16 ONWARDS

*All times WA

• Round 16

Collingwood v West Coast (Marvel Stadium): Saturday June 28, 5.35pm

Fremantle v St Kilda (Optus Stadium): Sunday June 29, 3.10pm

• Round 17

West Coast v GWS (Optus Stadium): Friday July 4, 6.20pm

Sydney v Fremantle (SCG): Sunday July 6, 11.10am

• Round 18

Fremantle v Hawthorn (Optus Stadium): Saturday July 12, 6.10pm

Port Adelaide v West Coast (Adelaide Oval): Sunday July 13, 2.40pm

• Round 19

West Coast v Richmond (Optus Stadium): Saturday July 19, 6.10pm

Collingwood v Fremantle (MCG): Sunday July 20, 1.20pm

• Round 20

Fremantle v West Coast (Optus Stadium): Saturday July 26, 2.15pm

• Round 21

Melbourne v West Coast (Marvel Stadium): Saturday August 2, 11.20am

Fremantle v Carlton (Optus Stadium): Sunday August 3, 3.10pm

• Round 22

Port Adelaide v Fremantle (Adelaide Oval): Saturday August 9, 5.40pm

West Coast v Adelaide (Optus Stadium): Sunday August 10, 3.10pm

• Round 23

Fremantle v Brisbane (Optus Stadium): Friday August 15, 6.20pm

Western Bulldogs v West Coast (Marvel Stadium): Sunday August 17, 2.40pm

• Round 24

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle (Marvel Stadium): TBC

West Coast v Sydney (Optus Stadium): TBC