15 things you didnt know about the Fremantle Dockers
YES, the Dockers are the good guys in this AFL Grand Final. But before you don the purple, here's a few things to know.
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THE Fremantle Dockers are the good guys in this Grand Final.
They’re the triers. The underdogs. The once-joke of a team which overcame years of failure and ridicule to earn a shot at its first premiership.
No self-respecting neutral would cheer for Hawthorn, the most successful non-foundation club in the AFL, over that fairytale. Nobody likes the Hawks anyway.
But before you don imperial purple for the day, you should learn some basic facts about your adoptive team. Here’s a crash course.
1. IT’S THEIR FIRST TIME
This is Fremantle’s first Grand Final appearance, and only two members of the team, Zac Dawson and Danyle Pearce, have played in a decider before. The Dockers are presumably counting on this extensive experience to get them over the line today.
2. THEY NICKED THEIR NICKNAME
Here’s the thing. They’re called the Fremantle Dockers. But there is also a brand of clothing called Dockers. The company which produces Dockers clothing, Levi Strauss & Co, registered the name “Dockers” a few weeks before the Fremantle Dockers decided on the name “Dockers”, so the Dockers were prevented from officially using the nickname “Dockers” between 1997 and 2010. Follow? The name still stuck.
3. THEY HAVE A GIANT
Freo ruckman Aaron Sandilands is 2.11 metres tall and weighs 120 kilos. That makes him both the heaviest and equal-tallest player in AFL history. It’s pretty easy to catch a Sherrin when everyone else can barely reach your chest.
4. THEY HATE BIRDS
This week they’re hunting Hawks, but the Dockers usually reserve their spite for WA rivals the West Coast Eagles. Western Australia is more than 2.5 million square kilometres large, but apparently it only has enough room for two AFL teams. Meanwhile, there are ten clubs in Melbourne alone, none of which are even remotely likable.
5. THEY’RE HISTORICALLY FOOTY MAD
Fremantle has only been in the AFL for 19 years, but it has been playing Australian Rules footy since the 1880s. Teams based in Fremantle won 24 of the first 34 West Australian Football League premierships. So they’ve always been a bit nutty for the sport.
6. THEY’RE TOUGH
Sydney could only manage two goals, two behinds and a measly score of 14 before half-time in the preliminary final last week. That’s because the Dockers love to bump, tackle and smash the other lot. One line in the club song sums up their attitude pretty well: “Hit ‘em real hard and send ‘em down below.”
7. THEIR SKIPPER’S A NICE GUY
Club captain Matthew Pavlich has spent his entire career at Fremantle, stretching back to 1999. For most of that career, Pavlich was one of the AFL’s most talented players, and Freo was a laughing stock. Pav never left. That kind of loyalty is rare in sport, and he deserves to be rewarded with a flag.
8. THEIR FAVOURITE BAND IS ESKIMO JOE
Stuart MacLeod’s alternative rock band loves the Dockers, and the Dockers love it back. Eskimo Joe even had a dig at writing a new club song in 2011, but the effort fell a bit flat, just like everything else the band has produced since Black Fingernails, Red Wine.
9. THEY LIVE WITH THE ENEMY
Fremantle and West Coast share the same home ground, Subiaco Oval. Which is a bit like forcing Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd to live in The Lodge together. But Subiaco’s time may be limited, with the West Australian government planning to build a larger, 60000 seat stadium by 2018.
10. THEY HAVE MORE FANS THAN YOU
Well, probably. Fremantle has almost 44000 club members, which places it in front of most AFL clubs and every NRL club. Yes, every single one. The two AFL clubs with the most members are Collingwood and Hawthorn. Before you gloat, Pies and Hawks fans, just remember everyone else hates your guts.
11. THEY USED TO BE REALLY, REALLY RUBBISH
Four years ago, Adelaide beat Fremantle 130-13. That scoreline was probably embarrassing enough on its own, but to make matters worse, the Dockers only managed to kick one goal. In 80 minutes. Some Freo fans still haven’t stopped blushing.
12. THEY HAVE A SNIPER
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith is the club’s number one ticket holder. Corporal Roberts-Smith is a sniper, so Buddy Franklin and co should probably keep moving this afternoon. Mobile targets are harder to hit.
13. THEY’RE ALL FROM SYDNEY
A huge chunk of Fremantle’s coaching staff migrated west from Sydney. Ross Lyon was a midfield coach for the Swans from 2004-2006, Mark Stone was a stoppages coach at Sydney and Brett Kirk played 241 games for the club. So when Freo win the flag they should probably share it with the Swans.
14. THEIR MASCOT IS A SURFIE
Johnny “The Doc” Docker has a relaxed outlook on life. Or at least, that’s what the strangely vacant look in his eyes suggests. In the photo below, Johnny’s actually in the middle of a fight with the West Coast Eagles mascot. He doesn’t seem bothered.
15. THEY HAVE A WINNING STYLE
Last year Hawthorn lost the Grand Final against a tough, defence-obsessed team. Sydney pressured the Hawks relentlessly and the favourites cracked. Fremantle plays the same way.
Here’s an encouraging statistic for Dockers fans: The last five times the best attack in the AFL clashed with the best defence in the decider, the best defence won. This year, Fremantle has the best defence.
Who are you cheering for today? Leave a comment below or continue the conversation on Twitter: @perthnow
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