The western derby often finds itself compared to the showdown — and there is one key area where South Australia’s biggest football rivalry well and truly has Western Australia’s covered.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide players are more than happy to exchange public barbs in the week leading up to their twice-a-year clashes.
Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has gone after the Crows for their “sense of entitlement”. In 2024, Adelaide young gun Josh Rachele brought up an old stereotype about Port supporters not having any teeth — and promptly pointed at his own after kicking a goal.
Only the players themselves know whether those feelings are genuine or played up for the sake of kayfabe. But what is without question is that the narratives make the game much hotter, both on and off field.
To hear both West Coast and Fremantle’s players and coaches begin to dip their toes in the same pool this week has been refreshing.
It was raised in the questions he faced at his media conference, but Justin Longmuir seemed very much aware of Andrew McQualter saying the Eagles would be out for a “scalp” in the derby and was happy to respond. Dockers defender Karl Worner made a fleeting reference to the “hatred” between the clubs in a radio appearance.
No one would have been happier to hear the dislike between the two clubs being mentioned than their supporters.
When all is said and done, the rivalry means just as much to the fans of both clubs than the players — if not more. They are the ones who have to endure ribbing from colleagues in offices or on jobsites if their team loses, or get the chance to do just that if they win.
The risk of a spectacular backfire means it would be understandable if an Eagle or Docker did not look to turn up the intensity in their commentary before Friday night.
But if someone is brave enough to invoke Wines or Rachele and it pays off, they could make themselves a club legend, regardless of their on-field feats.
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