The Fremantle Dockers will not commit to major sponsor Woodside after its contract expires at the end of 2023 as the club is urged to dump the petroleum giant by a group of high-profile fans including WA author Tim Winton, former WA premier Carmen Lawrence and ex-player Dale Kickett.

Their open letter to the Fremantle Football Club board calls on the club to end its partnership with Woodside Energy, which has sponsored the Dockers for an unspecified amount since 2010. But club president Dale Alcock flagged the prospect their long-standing partnership could end next year.

“At this stage that’s not something I’m going to commit to either way,” he told 6PR Breakfast host Gareth Parker on Wednesday about continuing the Woodside partnership.

Tap PLAY to hear Alcock on why mining sponsorships are so common in WA

Corporate sponsorships have recently come under pressure from climate groups, with Fringe World organiser Artrage dropping Woodside as a principal sponsor in 2021.

It follows activism against coal, oil and gas company sponsorships more broadly, with Perth Festival and Chevron splitting after a decades-long partnership and Australian Test captain Pat Cummins raising ethical issues over a sponsorship deal between Cricket Australia and Alinta Energy worth $40 million.

COMING UP I A high profile group of Freo Dockers fans have written an open letter to the Fremantle Football Club board calling on the club to end its partnership with Woodside Energy.@freodockers President Dale Alcock joins @6PRbreakfast

📷 Milestweedie Photography pic.twitter.com/dqRZYvZ7m1

— Breakfast with Gareth Parker (@6PRbreakfast) October 19, 2022