18/09/2026
It’s an exciting time to be a Freo supporter💜
Whether you’re sitting in the stands, on the couch or watching with friends, your heart can react to every big moment.
That’s because excitement, anticipation and stress can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, releasing hormones such as adrenaline that temporarily increase heart rate and keep us alert.
In one study of 229 football fans, average heart rate rose by 8 beats per minute on the day of a major match, with stress levels 41% higher than usual. Fans watching live at the stadium averaged 94 bpm, compared with 79 bpm for those watching on TV.
Then there’s the coaches’ box.
Australian researchers monitored an AFL coach across seven matches and found an average match heart rate of 125 bpm. When the game was close, the final five minutes pushed that average up to 145 bpm.
And on the field, elite AFL players can spend more than half of a match operating at 85–95% of their maximum heart rate.
So while the players are doing the running, fans and coaches can be feeling the intensity too.
Good luck tonight, Freo. 💜
Sources: Scientific Reports; Watsford et al., Physiological and psychological responses to coaching: An exploratory case report from professional Australian rules football
Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP
