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Craig O'DonoghueSports Journalist

Craig O'Donoghue is part of The West Australian's sports writing team. He joined The West Australian in 2000 and spent 2013-14 working in the Melbourne bureau. He now focuses on AFL and basketball.

Email Craig O'DonoghueX @Craig_ODonoghue
Luke Jackson and partner Kelsey Browne

AFLVideoPremiumLuke Jackson reveals plan to dominate the AFL like Max Gawn

Luke Jackson won his first Doig Medal on Saturday night and the Fremantle ruckman quickly made it clear how determined he is to get even better and rival his former teammate Max Gawn.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick has declared the team will return to pre-season training ready to ‘unleash hell’ on the competition.

AFLPremiumDockers boss vows to ‘unleash hell’ in bold 2027 declaration

Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick, captain Alex Pearce and president Chris Sutherland have made it clear that the 2026 grand final is only the beginning and they will do whatever is needed to win the flag next year.

Craig O'Donoghue

Perth Wildcats beat South East Melbourne on Friday night.

BasketballHow Wildcats impressed Rillie in third consecutive win

Perth Wildcats won another tight contest on Friday night and coach John Rillie quickly identified the moment which could have turned the game if his player hadn’t reacted the right way.

Craig O'Donoghue

Justin Longmuir

opinion
opinion
AFLVideoPremium
opinion
Freo must stay calm and avoid trading on grand final emotion

Fremantle need to keep getting better to win a premiership, but they must stick to their policy of recruiting players who won’t bring baggage of drama to the footy club instead of getting besotted by talent.

Craig O'Donoghue

Kristian Doolittle

BasketballPremiumWildcats learn lessons and produce key win over Phoenix

Perth Wildcats have reversed their loss to South East Melbourne from earlier in the season and handled the late minutes significantly better despite being undermanned.

Craig O'Donoghue

Luke Jackson

AFLVideoPremiumJackson the favourite to end Serong’s amazing Doig Medal run

Luke Jackson will enter Saturday night’s Doig Medal count as the favourite to win Fremantle’s best-and-fairest award, and he’ll be attempting to end Caleb Serong’s run of wins across the last three years.

Craig O'Donoghue

Brandon Knight and Jo Lual-Acuil will not face South East Melbourne Phoenix.

BasketballWildcats decide whether Knight or JLA will face the Phoenix

Perth Wildcats have been below full strength for the whole season so far, which meant the big question at training on Thursday was whether Jo Lual-Acuil or Brandon Knight would play on Friday.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle lost the grand final.

AFLVideoPremiumA convenient excuse: Wharfie Time critics cop a lashing

A leading sports psychologist has declared Wharfie Time will only be problem in the future if people view it as a negative and made it clear the Dockers can still benefit by playing it during games next year.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle lost the grand final.

AFLVideoPremiumGrieve the loss, then get out of the country: Sports Pysch

Fremantle have been through emotional turmoil in recent days following their grand final loss to Brisbane but a prominent sports psychologist believes there is clear way forward for the players.

Craig O'Donoghue

Matthew Johnson feels the pain of defeat.

AFLVideoPremiumWill live with it forever: Matthew Johnson’s raw admission

The pain of Fremantle’s grand final loss to Brisbane is still raw, but midfielder Matthew Johnson knows it will never go away and he’ll spend his life wondering what might have been.

Craig O'Donoghue

Four minutes turned the grand final.

exclusive
exclusive
AFLVideoPremium
exclusive
The inside story on four minutes of grand final mayhem

How did Fremantle lose the grand final when they led by 17 points with just over four minutes left? We asked players and coaches what they saw and what they did during an extraordinary finish.

Craig O'Donoghue

The Lions changed their plans when Alex Pearce got injured.

AFLVideoPremiumWhat Lions forwards planned after Alex Pearce’s injury

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce’s Achilles injury transformed the grand final because it left the Dockers vulnerable in defence, and Lions star Logan Morris said the key forwards quickly came up with a new plan.

Craig O'Donoghue