ABC Perth

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Still nursing the grief of their shock AFL Grand Final loss, the Fremantle Dockers touched down at Perth Airport this afternoon to cheers from supporters determined to give the team some love.

Shouting "we love you" and "forever Freo", a small group of fans cheered the players on as their buses left the airport. The team boarded the buses directly from the tarmac.

Another group of fans also waited for the team outside the Cockburn headquarters.

One mother brought her children to show their support.

"It's not just about being there when it's good, it's also about riding the hard time," she said.

"We just want them to know we are still proud."

Fremantle fans were left heartbroken following the seven-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Saturday's grand final.

📲 Read Samantha Goerling, Keane Bourke, and Pip Waller’s full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/fremantle-fans-react-after-grand-final-loss-to-brisbane/107199570

Young Australians say s*xual strangulation has become so normalised it is no longer considered a kink.

A 2024 study revealed nearly 60 per cent of young people have experienced strangulation during s*x.

It's prompted a conversation about why s*xual strangulation is so common.

📲 Read Katie McAllister's full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/why-is-s*xual-strangulation-prevalent-among-young-australians/107194944

Family and domestic violence support:
- 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732
- Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811
- Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
- Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
- Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
- WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline: 1800 007 339

In 2024, the long-running Perth writers' festival announced it would be taking a break in 2025, coming back with a refreshed event in early 2026.

That never happened.

It's now unclear when it will come back, leaving Perth as the only state capital in Australia without a major writers' festival.

Perth now only capital without major writers' festival Despite optimistic promises, the Perth writers' festival hasn't been scheduled since 2024. For writers and reader on the west coast, it's a deeply felt loss.

For Stephen Duggan, September 27, 1996 started out like any other Friday but when the news of a coastal cliff collapse reached his family farm, he did not hesitate to act.

Driving down to his local beach, racing across the sand, Mr Duggan and his friend John dug for hours with their bare hands, searching for survivors.

Thirty years ago, students, teachers and parents flocked to Huzza's Beach for an inter-school surfing competition in Gracetown, 271 kilometres south of Perth.

Inclement weather saw people take shelter under the cliffs, which suddenly gave way, killing five adults and four children.

📲 Read the full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/gracetown-cliff-collapse-30-year-memorial/107195444

As the sun rose over the port city, cleanup crews were collecting rubbish strewn across the street and packing down big barriers and other equipment from the night before.

Supporters who were up early expressed a mix of disappointment in the result but pride for their club’s efforts.

We spoke to a few this morning.

📲 Read Pip Waller and Keane Bourke’s full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/fremantle-fans-react-after-grand-final-loss-to-brisbane/107199570

Stonemasons in Western Australia say many experienced hands in the industry are on the cusp of retirement.

Honed over decades, their skills are vital to the restoration of colonial-era buildings, many of which were built from local stone.

Heritage buildings on cusp of ruin as stonemasons retire Unless a new generation takes up the trade, the craft will be lost to time, and the buildings with it.

Fremantle fans have been left to ponder what could have been after a shattering dying-stages loss to Brisbane in the 2026 AFL Grand Final.

📲 Read Pip Waller's full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/fremantle-fans-react-after-grand-final-loss-to-brisbane/107199570

As the bells tolled around the MCG on Saturday, Fremantle fans screamed in exhilaration.

This was finally their moment in the premiership sun after 31 long years of waiting.

Wharfie Time had arrived, and with four minutes and 18 seconds left on the clock, there was surely no way that the Dockers could bottle this one — particularly with their viral celebration in full swing.

And then it all fell apart.

📲 Read Kyle Pollard's full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/afl-grand-final-2026-what-is-wharfie-time/107200612

: There have been close grand finals before, heartbreaking defeats, joy snatched away just as it was poised to erupt. But nothing like this.

The AFL grand final has never felt so raw as in the five ballistic minutes that elevated the Brisbane Lions to legends and delivered Fremantle the most crushing defeat imaginable.

In the greatest and cruellest of grand finals, only the Lions believed The AFL grand final has never felt so raw as in the five ballistic minutes that elevated the Brisbane Lions to legends and delivered Fremantle the most crushing defeat imaginable.

PHOTOS: The devastation of defeat 😢

Fremantle players and fans were hurting tonight, following the Dockers 💜🤍⚓ heartbreaking 7-point defeat to the Lions 🦁 in the 2026 Grand Final.

Where did you watch the game? Show us with 📸📹

And let's support each other as recover, ready to go again next year.

🗣️ What hurt you most about the defeat and what will you do to bounce back from that disappointment. Tell us below... 👇💬

A devastating loss for Justin Longmuir and Fremantle fans. 💔

Via ABC Sport
Live blog: https://ab.co/4dBn180
Listen live: http://ab.co/ABCListenApp

Chris Fagan had it all planned out ... and it was executed perfectly by his men late in the 2026 AFL Grand Final to complete a historic three-peat 🦁🏆

Corbin Middlemas thinks we just witnessed the death of Wharfie Time.

The bell tolls for thee...

Via ABC Sport

Chris Fagan was obviously proud of his team for fighting back to win a third flag on the trot.

But even he admitted that Freo probably should have won.

via ABC Sport
Hear every AFL match, live and ad-free, on ABC listen: ab.co/ABClisten
Live blog: https://ab.co/3V88aM9

Thousands swarmed the streets of Fremantle to watch the Dockers fall
heartbreakingly short of a historic first flag.

Fans flood Fremantle for finals heartbreak Thousands swarmed the streets of Fremantle to watch the Dockers fall heartbreakingly short of a historic first flag.

Dockers star Shai Bolton is the Norm Smith Medallist, despite Fremantle losing the Grand Final.

"I just want to say congratulations to the Brisbane boys, you've been the benchmark for a couple of years now. To our boys, heads up, we'll be back better and stronger. And to our fans, thank you for coming out. We appreciate you all," Bolton said after receiving his medal.

The Brisbane Lions have won a three-peat for the second time in their history as the Dockers came up agonisingly short of a first ever Premiership.

: https://ab.co/4rvzsYK

A devastating late miss for Josh Treacy and a barrage of Brisbane goals following Wharfie Time saw the Lions come out on top 14.12 (96) to 12.17 (89).

Icon. National treasure. She's still got it, and it was hit after hit after hit. 💜

We're spinning around after Kylie's performance! 💃

Via ABC Sport
Hear every AFL match, live and ad-free, on ABC listen: https://ab.co/ABClisten
Live blog: https://ab.co/3V88aM9

Love is in the air at the AFL grand final! 💜

Diehard Freo fans Matt Abbott and Danni Bloomfield moved their wedding to Gate 3 at the MCG so they could seal their future together, then head inside to watch the game!

From produce to pet accessories, purple reigns in Fremantle as history beckons for the Dockers' in the 2026 the AFL grand final at the MCG. 💜🤍

Fremantle turns purple as Dockers attempt grand final history From produce to pet accessories, purple reigns in Fremantle as Dockers' fans count down to the AFL grand final at the MCG.