The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
Brendan Foster

Brendan Foster

Brendan Foster is a Fremantle local, former Fairfax journalist and communication professional, with work published in Guardian Australia, The New York Daily, The New York Times, Crikey, WAtoday, News.com.au, The Irish Times and The Sunday Times.

Is it time for WA to, as Fleetwood Mac sang, go our own way?

As GST spat gets bitter, is it time for a ‘Republic of Westralia’?

At times – particularly when it comes to dividing GST – WA’s relationship with other states has become more toxic than a cooped-up couple on Married at First Sight.

  • Brendan Foster

Latest

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Max Gawn and Tom Barrass pose during the 2026 Origin Media Opportunity at Perth Airport on February 11, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

As WA’s best get ready to lace up, how will AFL Origin rate against state clashes of old?

A West Australian football great believes this weekend’s AFL Origin will never reach the dizzying heights of the mid-80s, despite the “manufactured” hype.

  • Brendan Foster
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds perform at Fremantle Park on Saturday night.

Fremantle gets a taste of the gospel, according to Nick Cave

Whatever punters think of Nick Cave’s anti-rock muses these days, his artistic evolution as a musician over the past 40 years is extraordinary.

  • Brendan Foster
South Fremantle.

Is Fremantle’s ‘bogan cousin’ upstaging the port city?

It wasn’t that long ago that South Fremantle was a semi-industrial wasteland compared with the cultural landscape and vibrant food scene of its neighbour up the road.

  • Brendan Foster
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk with WA music industry stalwarts Kav and Beth Temperley from the WAM Song of the Year competition at Freo.Social in June.

Fremantle live music institution gets green light to turn it up to 11

A much-loved live music venue in Fremantle will be able to rage on after being granted an exception from noise restrictions in a bid to protect the music scene in the port city.

  • Brendan Foster
Freo.Social managing director James Legge.

Fremantle live music icon’s future ‘secure’ after closure scare

Freo.Social was under threat from NIMBYism. Now, it’s beefing up its acoustics – and safeguarding its future.

  • Brendan Foster
Advertisement
Fremantle council wants more people living in the port city’s CBD. But what will it sacrifice in the process?

The dilemma at the heart of Fremantle’s new look

Fremantle is bursting at the seams with development, but is the sudden urbanisation of a once salty, seaside town gradually destroying its creative culture?

  • Brendan Foster
Should West Coast Eagles fans back the Fremantle Dockers in this year’s AFL finals? Picture: Getty Images/Composite

Should dejected Eagles fans back in Fremantle this weekend?

It’s an unwritten rule of any sporting rivalry: you don’t soften your animosity towards the bitter enemy under any circumstances.

  • Brendan Foster
Eagles star Liam Ryan looks to handball during Saturday’s loss to Sydney.

What West Coast must do to avoid having more wooden spoons than premiership cups

With West Coast officially recording the worst season in the history of the competition, what steps must the club take to stop being an uncompetitive rabble?

  • Brendan Foster
Salem, Sabrina and owner Brendan Foster.

A Perth pet hospital nearly sent me broke. But the alternative was worse

My partner and I were recently abruptly confronted with a philosophical and moral dilemma: how much were we willing to pay to save our pet’s life? Now we know.

  • Brendan Foster