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Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
Agony and ecstasy would mean more if teams ran same race

The trouble with the last day of the AFL’s regular season is that it’s like the end of a 400m race where the judges forgot to implement a stagger. It’s time for the competition to have even fixtures.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERComments
opinion
Risk and reward: Freo trio’s fitness throws finals curveball

The management of three injury-affected forwards in Rory Lobb, Nat Fyfe and Matt Taberner is looming as the defining issue of Fremantle’s finals campaign, writes Braden Quartermaine.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERComments
opinion
It pays to know which rules to take seriously in the AFL

The bizarre scenes that led to Friday night’s draw at Marvel Stadium included one rule that got enforced to the letter and another rule that is treated as if it doesn’t exist.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
Why the long face Horse? Swans duck media in puzzling move

Sydney coach John Longmire has the right to answer questions however he likes. But the media equally has the right to decide whether it’s worth showing up.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERPremium
opinion
Don’t confuse Freo’s 2022 success with a successful rebuild

In one of the world’s most beloved movies, Andy Dufresne crawled through a river of s..t and came out clean on the other side. Some at Fremantle might know the feeling.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
Eagles’ 1992 heroes were kings of a different game

All rule changes should come with a stated aim and a two-year sunset clause. If they haven’t achieved what was set out, they automatically get dumped.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERComments
opinion
Captain Docker ready for his Marvel-lous story’s final act

Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe might wield his Captain Docker shield on the field, but deep down he shares the doubts, flaws and insecurities we all do.

Braden Quartermaine

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Must-read interviewCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Eagles’ list boss: We’re not in denial over rebuild

West Coast recruiting and list boss Rohan O’Brien says the club is not in denial about the need to rebuild, but ‘an unbelievable set of circumstances’ had made assessing their position more difficult.

Braden Quartermaine

Mid-season draftPremiumDreadlock party! Kuek, Culley join WA clubs

Fremantle have boosted their attacking arsenal with exciting East Perth key forward Sebit Kuek, who has booted 16 goals in five games in a hot start to the WAFL season.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
A famous Freo win, but top-four pressure won’t relent

Fremantle were coming off a six-day break, consecutive wet-weather slogs, travelled, had Nat Fyfe watching from home and would soon lose Matt Taberner. Then they played maybe their best quarter ever.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
Time to sort out Eagles’ WAFL shemozzle once and for all

The Eagles’ injury and COVID crises have flowed on to the reserves team, meaning they are fielding a side in the WAFL made up largely of amateur standard top-up players. And it needs to change.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
FIFTH QUARTERCommentsPremium
opinion
Jack and Josh: Two moments say it all as Eagles fall apart

In the twilight of his fabulous career with his iconic beard starting to grey, here was a living legend proudly paying homage to his love for the club in one of their darkest hours.

Braden Quartermaine

analysis
analysis
Too shortCommentsPremium
analysis
Suns get first win at Optus Stadium over undermanned Eagles

Patched up with bits and pieces in front of a patchy crowd, West Coast were powered by resilience until their tremendous heart was ultimately left broken with a 27-point loss to Gold Coast.

Braden Quartermaine

Wharfie timePremiumAre the Dockers on the cusp of their third prominent era?

If West Coast have endured the summer from hell, there’s an equally simple but strong argument that Fremantle have quietly completed the best pre-season of the 18 AFL clubs.

Braden Quartermaine

Wooden spoon fanciesPremiumNo one to blame for Eagles injury crisis: Simmo

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says the club is just ‘having a bad run’ with injury as three more players go down in the pre-season clash against Fremantle.

Braden Quartermaine

No spreadWA cricketers in the clear after Goodwin’s COVID positive

WA Cricket confident COVID has not spread through the squad beyond Jayden Goodwin’s diagnosis.

Braden Quartermaine

CEO’S letterPremiumEagles’ seated members should be sweet despite crowd cap

There’s good news and bad news for West Coast members this season, Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett revealed in an email.

Braden Quartermaine

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Get hungryCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
A licence to thrill: Knights’ plan for Eagles midfield

New West Coast midfield coach Matthew Knights has outlined an exciting and ambitious blueprint for a revamped engine room he believes can match it with the AFL’s best this season.

Braden Quartermaine

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
EXCLUSIVE PICTURESPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Oscar’s dreaded new look as Eagles’ woes mount

It’s the last thing West Coast fans wanted to see after a drama-filled summer – the sight of young gun Oscar Allen stuck in a moon boot on the eve of the season. SEE THE EXCLUSIVE PICTURES HERE

Braden Quartermaine

Blockbuster finalPremiumSmith v Scorchers? Star’s best chance yet at BBL return

Sydney Sixers are set to plead for Steve Smith to be allowed to face Perth Scorchers in Friday’s blockbuster BBL grand final, after limping into the decider ravaged by injury and COVID.

Braden Quartermaine

Home sweet homeHow WA cricketer Green secured flight home to Perth

Cricket star Cam Green is back in Perth, after getting his G2G application approved with a special exemption.

Braden Quartermaine

analysis
analysis
Ticket bookedCommentsPremium
analysis
Scorchers dream team sets up date with destiny

If Inglis and Patterson set the tone for the batting effort, then paceman Jhye Richardson did the same in the opening over of the Sixers’ hapless pursuit.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
Vaccine dramaCommentsPremium
opinion
Jack a riddle to the end, if that’s what this is

It’s becoming obvious the Eagles are enduring their most tumultuous summer since the dramatic aftermath of the 2007 season, when Chris Judd departed for Carlton and Ben Cousins was sacked.

Braden Quartermaine

opinion
opinion
‘Pretty gut-wrenching’CommentsPremium
opinion
Peel Thunder’s tragic premiership team: Cam Shepherd Q&A

The deaths of former Fremantle forwards Harley Balic and Shane Yarran mean Peel Thunder have lost two players from their inaugural 2016 premiership team.

Braden Quartermaine