The AFL has released its 2027 Gather Round fixtures, with Adelaide and South Australia hosting a weekend of football. The Crows are expected to open proceedings on Friday night and Port Adelaide to close on Sunday afternoon. Some supporters had feared the draw would include weak matches, but the writer argues the league has delivered strong contests. Highlights include Adelaide against Brisbane, Collingwood against Sydney, Carlton against Melbourne, and Port Adelaide against the Western Bulldogs, featuring Zak Butters' return. Only two games were judged less appealing.
AFL Gather Round will return to Adelaide from Thursday, April 8 to Sunday, April 11, 2027. Nine games will be played at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Barossa Park. Tickets and prices have not yet been confirmed. Fans can book flights with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar, and accommodation through All Accor, the AFL's official accommodation partner. A parade through the Adelaide CBD, with 10 players from each club, is a new attraction.
The 18th Castaways Sculpture Awards opened on the Rockingham Foreshore and run until Sunday, 1 November 2026. Artworks made from recycled and repurposed materials are displayed along Mangles Bay. The exhibition includes the main display, a maquette and small sculpture exhibition, and a schools exhibition, all showcasing Western Australian artists. Fremantle Ports supports the event, which has a prize pool of $27,250. The free family event includes Tactile Tours and Artist Talks. The information tent is open from 9am to 5pm daily.
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Brisbane have been given a primetime Thursday night opening match at Gather Round in 2027, against co-hosts Adelaide on April 8. The round closes on Sunday night with Zak Butters facing his former club Port Adelaide, now as a Western Bulldogs player. Brisbane have won all four of their past Gather Round matches, by an average of 38.5 points. Other grudge matches include Rowan Marshall facing former club St Kilda, and Essendon meeting North Melbourne after facing Melbourne in recent years. The round is played across four days in South Australia.
Essendon has decided not to renew AFLW coach Natalie Wood's contract after a one-win season. The club told her of the decision after Sunday's 3.7 (25) to 3.2 (20) loss to Hawthorn. Wood will coach the remaining round against Collingwood at Windy Hill. Essendon chief executive Tim Roberts thanked Wood for setting the club's standards and culture since 2022. The club will now search for a new AFLW coach.
The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge has been named Walyalup Bridge ahead of its official opening next weekend. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend. Walyalup is the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle. The bridge cost $596 million and opened months ahead of schedule. It will open to traffic later in the evening, after people have been able to walk across it. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the bridge will become part of Fremantle's identity for generations.
The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge in Western Australia will be named Walyalup Bridge when it opens on November 1. Walyalup is the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, and holds deep significance for the Whadjuk people. The bridge is jointly funded by federal and state governments and opens months ahead of schedule. It will be the country's first extradosed bridge, with two lanes in each direction and wider shared paths. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the name would become part of the site's continuing story.
The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge will be officially named Walyalup Bridge, the Western Australian Government has announced. The name reflects the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, which derives from walyo, the Noongar word for the woylie, a small native marsupial. The bridge opens to the public on Sunday 1 November, ahead of schedule, with a free community celebration from 9am to 1pm. Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport, as no parking will be available at the site.
A cake competition called Cakemantle, held during Fremantle Design Week, invited people to bake dessert creations inspired by the port city. Sixteen entrants took part, ranging from professional designers to locals. Erin Coates won first place with a cake based on the former limestone rock bar at the river mouth, which judges praised for its taste. Scolaro Terrazzo came second for its design, and the Fremantle Doctor took third. Organisers hope to hold the event again next year after tickets sold out quickly.
Families flocked to Fremantle Esplanade Park on Saturday for the annual Farmer on Your Plate festival. Children enjoyed pony rides, barrel tossing, cow milking and sheep shearing, while line dancing drew crowds of all ages. Pernille Loughton brought her granddaughters, who live nearby, and said she valued that the event was free. Kale Wells, who came across the festival while out with his three-year-old daughter, Pia, said cow milking was her favourite activity.
The widow of a cyclist killed in a crash in Bibra Lake, south of Perth, has spoken publicly for the first time. Joseph Paratore, 40, died at the scene on North Lake Road after being struck while riding his bicycle early on Tuesday, October 20. His wife, Sarina Paratore, said in a statement issued through WA Police that the family's hearts are broken. Police allege the vehicle, a white 4WD, did not stop. Craig Daniel Strawbridge, 40, of Yangebup, was arrested and charged, and was refused bail and remanded in custody at Fremantle Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A volunteer group in Fremantle is using a free noodle bar to show that households can cook without gas. Electrify Fremantle is running the Electric Noodle Bar during Fremantle Design Week, where chef Amanda Auwdina cooks vegetarian noodles on induction hotplates. Organiser Wilf Johnston says the group aims to reach people who have not yet considered switching. Research by consumer organisation Choice found induction cooktops are more efficient and cheaper to run than gas. Johnston expects gas networks to be called into question in coming years.
Writer Gayle O'Leary has praised the second year of the Totally Lit literature festival, and her compliments go to organiser Sharon Flindell. She attended several events and was struck by a talk suggesting Australian publishing is more progressive than authors had experienced. After an Ode to Sirens event, she left with signed books and a wish to read more widely. On the Saturday she chose to visit the Stormy Mills exhibition at AGWA instead, and she strongly recommends it.
The Western Australian Local Government Association and ABC WA brought council and media leaders together on 22 October. The stakeholder event covered sector priorities, community initiatives and ways to strengthen engagement. Mayors, presidents and chief executives from several cities, shires and towns attended, along with senior ABC WA staff. WALGA President Mark Irwin said councils deliver positive outcomes that are often overlooked, and encouraged attendees to share those stories. WALGA CEO Nick Sloan said the group represents Western Australia's 139 local governments.
A weekly guide to arts events in Fremantle has listed upcoming exhibitions, films, music and storytelling performances. Highlights include Dual Nature, an art exhibition at Palette Fremantle running from 13 October to 8 November 2026. Fremantle Design Week runs from 16 to 25 October 2026 with more than 60 events. Piazza Walls, a street art festival at South Terrace Piazza, runs from 28 November to 13 December 2026, with 15 murals planned across the precinct.
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A new recording studio and performance space has opened at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre in Fremantle. The Mayakowa studio and Malo performance space are designed for community members, emerging artists and creatives, including those new to music and performance. The $1.26 million project was funded by the Australian Government, with the City of Fremantle operating the facilities. Its first artists are supported by a $90,000 sponsorship from Fremantle Community Bank. Booking details will be released soon.
The City of Fremantle is preparing a replacement for its planning scheme, which dates from 2007. The new scheme will address housing, heritage, neighbourhood character and the activities allowed in different areas. The Planning Framework Committee reviewed and amended the draft Local Planning Scheme No. 5 on 19 October 2026. The City aims to present the draft to Council on 28 October 2026, followed by State review. Formal public consultation, a 90-day submission period, has not yet opened.
The bulk waste area at Fremantle Recycling Centre will close temporarily from Friday 30 October for upgrade works. It is due to reopen on Friday 13 November 2026, while other areas stay open as usual. Residents of the City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle are asked to keep their bulk waste until then. Anyone arriving with general bulk junk during the closure must take it home. Residents of both councils can instead book a Verge Valet collection or use the City of Cockburn's landfill facility, where fees apply.
