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Fremantle revels in the Dockers' purple patch Fremantle revels in the Dockers' purple patch
(about 1 hour later)
If you don't follow AFL, you would think that some strange purple cult has taken over Fremantle.If you don't follow AFL, you would think that some strange purple cult has taken over Fremantle.
The city's AFL team, Fremantle Dockers, will contest their first ever grand final this weekend, against Hawthorn. "The streets have been painted purple, front yards and balconies have purple flags and balloons. I've seen purple cappuccino froth, purple beer, even dogs have been dyed purple," says Fremantle's deputy mayor, Josh Wilson. "The purple fever has reached heights I've never seen before."The city's AFL team, Fremantle Dockers, will contest their first ever grand final this weekend, against Hawthorn. "The streets have been painted purple, front yards and balconies have purple flags and balloons. I've seen purple cappuccino froth, purple beer, even dogs have been dyed purple," says Fremantle's deputy mayor, Josh Wilson. "The purple fever has reached heights I've never seen before."
Sine its creation 19 years ago, the Dockers have enjoyed little success. Often languishing near the bottom of the ladder, their track record combined with the loud purple colours of their jersey and a 'unique' team song (best described as very bad sea-shanty rock), mean the team and their loyal fans were often ridiculed by the rest of the competition. Since the club's creation 19 years ago, the Dockers have enjoyed little success. Often languishing near the bottom of the ladder, their track record combined with the loud purple colours of their jersey and a 'unique' team song (best described as very bad sea-shanty rock), mean the team and their loyal fans were often ridiculed by the rest of the competition.
"We have all developed a healthy streak of black humour about the Dockers," laughs Wilson. "I remember people chanting 'one in a row' at the early games." But he says the club's lack of on-field success has never cost them support in the seaside town. "The Freo people are good humoured, patient and incredibly loyal.""We have all developed a healthy streak of black humour about the Dockers," laughs Wilson. "I remember people chanting 'one in a row' at the early games." But he says the club's lack of on-field success has never cost them support in the seaside town. "The Freo people are good humoured, patient and incredibly loyal."
Fremantle restaurateur Nunzio Gumina regularly hosts the team and counts among the Dockers' most dedicated fans. In the club's first year he traveled to every single game, home and away. "Personally, I'm still in a state of shock," says Gumina. "It's been 19 years of pain and suffering."Fremantle restaurateur Nunzio Gumina regularly hosts the team and counts among the Dockers' most dedicated fans. In the club's first year he traveled to every single game, home and away. "Personally, I'm still in a state of shock," says Gumina. "It's been 19 years of pain and suffering."
Gumina was among the 43,000 Dockers fans packed into Subiaco Oval on Saturday night to see Fremantle destroy the Sydney Swans in the preliminary final. Egged on by a sea of rabid purple fans creating a wall of noise, the team's performance left Gumina, and many other supporters, in tears.Gumina was among the 43,000 Dockers fans packed into Subiaco Oval on Saturday night to see Fremantle destroy the Sydney Swans in the preliminary final. Egged on by a sea of rabid purple fans creating a wall of noise, the team's performance left Gumina, and many other supporters, in tears.
"I was thinking bloody hell, are we are going to be in the grand final? I was in awe of what was happening," he says. "The players know what all the fans have been though and it was as if they were saying this is payback for it all.""I was thinking bloody hell, are we are going to be in the grand final? I was in awe of what was happening," he says. "The players know what all the fans have been though and it was as if they were saying this is payback for it all."
For Fremantle fans, the worst ribbing has always come from supporters of the state's other (and much more successful) AFL team, the West Coast Eagles, who have won three premierships to Freo's zero. "They are so bloody arrogant, those Eagles," says Gumina. "We had nothing when we started and they always treated us like we invaded their territory."For Fremantle fans, the worst ribbing has always come from supporters of the state's other (and much more successful) AFL team, the West Coast Eagles, who have won three premierships to Freo's zero. "They are so bloody arrogant, those Eagles," says Gumina. "We had nothing when we started and they always treated us like we invaded their territory."
Professor Beth Hands, a die-hard Dockers fan and director of institute health research at Fremantle's Notre Dame University, says that the relationship with the Eagles has been important in shaping the club's identity.Professor Beth Hands, a die-hard Dockers fan and director of institute health research at Fremantle's Notre Dame University, says that the relationship with the Eagles has been important in shaping the club's identity.
"We are the battlers and they are the chardonnay set," she says, explaining that Dockers' fans view their 'underdog' label as a source of pride. "Our supporters seem to be from a more lower socioeconomic background. The club has attracted the sort of fans that really like supporting the underdog.""We are the battlers and they are the chardonnay set," she says, explaining that Dockers' fans view their 'underdog' label as a source of pride. "Our supporters seem to be from a more lower socioeconomic background. The club has attracted the sort of fans that really like supporting the underdog."
Certainly one of the jokes doing the rounds of Perth at the moment is that chardonnay stocks are high due to the Eagles failure to thrive in the finals, whilst bottle shops are running out of longneck beers.Certainly one of the jokes doing the rounds of Perth at the moment is that chardonnay stocks are high due to the Eagles failure to thrive in the finals, whilst bottle shops are running out of longneck beers.
Wilson agrees that the town's working class history has helped shape the Dockers' image. "Even though Freo has changed and become gentrified, the city still has a working class base," says Wilson.Wilson agrees that the town's working class history has helped shape the Dockers' image. "Even though Freo has changed and become gentrified, the city still has a working class base," says Wilson.
"I mean they chose the name Dockers when they formed, clearly aligning with that port worker history here. A marketing person would say, 'God why would you choose that?' But I really like that about the club.""I mean they chose the name Dockers when they formed, clearly aligning with that port worker history here. A marketing person would say, 'God why would you choose that?' But I really like that about the club."
Perhaps nothing encapsulates the spirit of the club more than their midfielder Michael 'Mickey' Barlow, a player rejected by other AFL clubs before Fremantle finally gave him a chance, only to then break his leg in a horrific injury. He then came back to become one of the teams most important players. Or Hayden Ballantyne, an undersized forward with a huge mouth who punches above his weight each week.Perhaps nothing encapsulates the spirit of the club more than their midfielder Michael 'Mickey' Barlow, a player rejected by other AFL clubs before Fremantle finally gave him a chance, only to then break his leg in a horrific injury. He then came back to become one of the teams most important players. Or Hayden Ballantyne, an undersized forward with a huge mouth who punches above his weight each week.
And it's not just the folk up the road at the Eagles who Fremantle have something to prove to this weekend. The AFL media, dominated by press from the eastern states, have been caught short by the club's success and have had to brush up on their Dockers knowledge, (not to mention it is not that long ago that even the footy commentators couldn't pronounce the name of the town properly.)And it's not just the folk up the road at the Eagles who Fremantle have something to prove to this weekend. The AFL media, dominated by press from the eastern states, have been caught short by the club's success and have had to brush up on their Dockers knowledge, (not to mention it is not that long ago that even the footy commentators couldn't pronounce the name of the town properly.)
Last week's announcement that only one Dockers player was included in the All-Australian side only cemented Fremantle fans' perception that their beloved team is still underestimated by the rest of the competition.Last week's announcement that only one Dockers player was included in the All-Australian side only cemented Fremantle fans' perception that their beloved team is still underestimated by the rest of the competition.
But come Saturday, the Purple army will descend on the MCG and the Hawks won't know what to do with these maniacal fans. There are no more seats left on any planes out of Perth heading to Melbourne, whilst total strangers with nothing in common but a love for Freo are car-pooling across the Nullarbor. One old high school friend of mine is flying from Burma to Melbourne for just three nights to experience the day we can't believe is finally here.But come Saturday, the Purple army will descend on the MCG and the Hawks won't know what to do with these maniacal fans. There are no more seats left on any planes out of Perth heading to Melbourne, whilst total strangers with nothing in common but a love for Freo are car-pooling across the Nullarbor. One old high school friend of mine is flying from Burma to Melbourne for just three nights to experience the day we can't believe is finally here.
Like many fans, Beth Hands is not concerned if Freo don't take the premiership this time around. "For some reason winning is not a biggie. It's more about the fact we got there," she says. "If we put up a good fight that will be fantastic."Like many fans, Beth Hands is not concerned if Freo don't take the premiership this time around. "For some reason winning is not a biggie. It's more about the fact we got there," she says. "If we put up a good fight that will be fantastic."
After 19 long years, a strong fighting spirit is something Freo can be relied upon to produce.After 19 long years, a strong fighting spirit is something Freo can be relied upon to produce.
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