When the Dockers were established in 1994, the club faced significant financial constraints and lacked facilities, resorting to purchasing used lockers from a nearby high school for their new base at Fremantle Oval. After paying a $4 million initial license fee to become the AFL’s 16th club, Fremantle found itself with limited funds. The fledgling franchise had no capital reserves and was supported by a modest $200,000 loan with substantial interest. Presenting that business model to today’s Shark Tank panel would likely result in a swift exit.
It’s improbable that star player Andrew Brayshaw is familiar with the Dockers’ dismal early years or the peculiar locker lore, as he now trains at the club’s modern $110 million facility in Cockburn, south of Perth. Yet, the 26-year-old seems to grasp how significant a Dockers premiership would be for the players. Not long ago, the vice-captain wrote a brief yet impactful note to his teammates and attached it inside their lockers. The message read.
“The first 22 men to win a premiership at Fremantle will be immortals.”
“I mean what I said – I do feel like if we can win it, we will be immortals,” Brayshaw stated following their impressive victory over the Swans in the preliminary final. “Now we’ve just got to play with that same freedom, that same courage that we have the last two weeks.”
If the Dockers triumph in the grand final against the Lions, it could signify a landmark achievement in Western Australian sports. This would be particularly remarkable considering the club’s history of heartbreak, missed opportunities, constant criticism, and the long-standing perception as the league’s underdogs.
Fremantle’s Challenging History
While the West Coast Eagles have carved out a notable place in national sporting history by being the first club outside Victoria to win a premiership in 1992, Fremantle had to forge its path from the ground up. The inaugural Dockers did not benefit from the advantageous draft concessions enjoyed by the Eagles or have access to the state’s premier sporting venue at the time, Subiaco Oval. The Dockers initially played at the dilapidated Fremantle Oval, which was constructed in 1895, the same year Banjo Paterson publicly performed Waltzing Matilda for the first time. The AFL was hesitant to grant the club the same perks or a wealth of draft picks as the Eagles, who had quickly risen to prominence with two premierships before Fremantle even played its inaugural match.
Ross Kelly, Fremantle’s first chair, remarked in 1995 that the club’s recruitment strategy was designed for the Dockers to secure “zero to one game” in their debut season. The team had to wait until 2003 to make its first finals appearance.
Recent Recruitment Successes
The Dockers were often seen as easy targets in negotiations because players viewed Fremantle not as a desirable destination but as a place for retirement. However, recent recruitment strategies have been astute, particularly with the acquisitions of Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton, and Jordan Clark. Fremantle has also excelled at securing bargains; six players who participated in last Friday’s preliminary final joined the club through the rookie draft, delisted free agency, or the supplemental selection period.
For the club to finally capture that elusive premiership, it needed to enhance its youthful roster with players who have experienced high-stakes matches in September. Jackson and Bolton, both of whom have tasted premiership success, have been pivotal in Fremantle’s 2026 finals run. Their contributions are vital for the Dockers’ hopes of winning their first flag.
Transformative Coaching and Future Aspirations
Under Justin Longmuir’s guidance, the Dockers have transformed into a more dynamic attacking team, boasting three of the AFL’s most potent power forwards along with a talented group of agile goal sneak players. This arsenal will be essential for defeating a Brisbane team filled with match winners. Should they succeed, immortality awaits.
