FREMANTLE are set to make a return to one of the AFL’s marquee timeslots in 2019, with at least six Saturday home games, including four Saturday night fixtures.

The Dockers, consigned to Sunday afternoon fixtures for much of 2018 after sliding from finals contention in 2016 and 2017, are understood to have requested more games on Saturday, believing it would give their supporter base the best chance of attending games.

Fremantle had seven Sunday home games this year, but that number is expected to drop to five next year when the fixtures are released today.

The West Australian understands that two of the Saturday night fixtures will be Fremantle’s home western derby — scheduled to be the second derby of 2019 — and the Dockers’ annual Anzac Commemoration, the Len Hall game, on April 27 against a yet to be specified Victorian opponent.

The fixture is expected to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase WA’s world-class Optus Stadium and its spectacular night-game lighting.

It also recognises shifting large crowds to Burswood in Friday night peak hour represents a challenge.

The one West Coast Friday night game revealed so far — the Good Friday clash with Port Adelaide — is on a public holiday so there will be no peak-hour public transport issues.

Privately, the Dockers believe the Saturday timeslot holds several advantages for them.

It gives country members time to get to Perth to attend games and return home before the end of the weekend. It also lessens the chances of a rash of six-day turnarounds which automatically come with Friday night fixtures and can also be a side-effect of Sunday games.

Fremantle’s 2018 crowds indicated that Saturday was a more popular timeslot for their fans.

If Fremantle’s home western derby and the “away game” purchased from Gold Coast are excluded from figures, 175,149 people attended four Saturday games hosted by the Dockers in 2018, an average of 43,787 per game.

The crowds peaked with the round-two attendance of 49,021 against Essendon, the club’s first home game at the stadium.

No Saturday game drew fewer than 40,000, the lowest crowd being 41,320 for the round 23 clash against Collingwood, the week after the club hit rock bottom with a 133-point drubbing at the hands of Geelong in Geelong.

Fremantle’s six non-derby Sunday games drew 227,733 people at an average of 37,955 per game, although several matches were rain-affected.

Crowds dipped below 34,000 for home games against Port Adelaide and Adelaide.