Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has made a passionate plea for the ARU to keep the Western Force alive, saying rugby is thriving in WA and has the potential to become a future gold mine.

Ross Lyon says it would be a terrible shame if Harley Bennell is lost to the game.

• Brad Hardie

The AFL wants to be the moral compass of the world but they have been extraordinarily quiet on the verbal sledging by St Kilda players towards Carlton's Marc Murphy.

The Western Force are set to be boosted by the return of a host of stars as the franchise plot their path towards becoming Australia's sole representative in this year's Super Rugby finals.

• Kim Hagdorn

​Fremantle will decide this week whether dashing midfielder Steven Hill resumes from injury in Sunday's home clash with Carlton.

Former Perth Wildcats guard Jaron Johnson has copped a three-month ban after testing positive to cannabis following an NBL game last season.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has backed injured midfielder Harley Bennell to return to football despite a string of off-field indiscretions to go with his injury woes.

West Coast big man Nathan Vardy wants to prove he can be a key weapon up forward as he plots a way to stay in the side long term.

West Coast's forward line is hungry, and coach Adam Simpson says it's time they get fed better.

• Brendan Foster

Troubled Dockers onballer Harley Bennell will never play a game for Fremantle, claims respected football writer Mike Sheahan.

• Staff reporters

Our crack(pot) panel returns to look ahead at all the action in round eight, including the first ever clash for premiership points in China.

• Adam Poulsen

A Perth school's football team has played its part in breaking down gender barriers by electing a girl as its captain.

• Brendan Foster

Most West Coast and Fremantle fans would rather walk over hot coals than 'barrack' for the other WA-based team, but one man switches his allegiance every week.

• COMMENT
• Brad Hardie

West Coast might not have a decent ruckman at the moment, but if the "last possession rule" comes into the AFL the Eagles won't have to worry about it because the ruckman could soon become extinct.

​The AFL career of Fremantle forward Michael Apeness has hit another major snag after he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Star Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale feared his lack of pace would cost him the chance to realise his AFL dream - but he's thankful the Dockers took a punt on him.

• Brendan Foster

Dockers' sharp shooter Michael Walters has come out in defence of his former captain Matthew Pavlich after he had a pot shot at Midland during the coverage of the Fremantle and Essendon game.

• Kim Hagdorn

Bold efforts from Dockers authorities to win the gutsy rising star is tipped to spark a bidding war with bitter rival West Coast to lure injured Adelaide forward Mitch McGovern back to his home state.

• Brendan Foster

Former Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich's could find himself in hot water for his careless and "casual racist" comment about Dockers goal sneak Michael Walters.

• Staff reporters

Will West Coast maintain it's impressive record at the Adelaide Oval and can the Dockers bounce back from one of the tamest Western Derbies ever? Our crack(pot) panel looks ahead to all the action in round seven.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has said it's touch and go whether star ruckman Nic Naitanui will return to the AFL this season.

• COMMENT
• Brad Hardie

Forget all the talk about Nat Fyfe heading to the Saints, because the big fish St Kilda is trying to land is Giants young gun Josh Kelly.

He's not as pesky as Ryan Crowley, but Fremantle have unearthed a new lockdown king in the form of Connor Blakely.

• Brendan Foster

Aging pugilists Anthony Mundine and Danny Green look set to resume their bitter hostilities with a third bout on the cards for Perth later in the year.

• Kim Hagdorn

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has leapt to the defence of his out of sorts small forward Michael Walters.

• Brendan Foster

Former Dockers great Paul Hasleby says the infamous "Demolition Derby" is often seen as a significant moment in Fremantle's history when the players took a stance and refused to be bullied by the 'mob down the road.

• Staff reporters

Round six is all about the Western Derby. Who will win? West Coast or Fremantle? Our crack(pot) panel runs the rule over the biggest game of the season for WA football fans.

• Brendan Foster

Plunging toothpicks into a voodoo doll to prevent an Eagles player kicking a goal, seems like an irrational and superstitious ritual that defies logic.

• Tim Carrier

West Coast youngster Kurt Mutimer will face a baptism of fire in his first game after chosen to make his debut for the Eagles in Saturday night's Western Derby.