Fremantle Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football
team which plays in the Australian Football League
(AFL). The club is based in the port city of Fremantle
at the mouth of the Swan River
in Western Australia. In 1995
it became the second team from Western Australia to be admitted to the national Australian rules football
competition, honouring the rich footballing tradition and history associated with Fremantle.
Matthew Pavlich
has been club captain since the beginning of the 2007 season
. High profile players since the club's inception include Pavlich, the league's tallest ever player Aaron Sandilands
, former captains Peter Bell
and Shaun McManus
, former number one draft pick Clive Waterhouse
, winners of the AFL Rising Star award Paul Hasleby
and current Greater Western Sydney Giants midfielder Rhys Palmer
, defender Luke McPharlin
and forward Jeff Farmer
.
The club is coached by former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon
following the sacking of Mark Harvey
at the end of the 2011 AFL home and away season.
.
The decision to base the new club in Fremantle was primarily due to the long association of Australian rules football
in Fremantle. The first match to be played in Fremantle occurred in the 1880s and the city quickly became a stronghold of the code, with Fremantle based teams winning 24 of the first 34 WAFL
premierships. For over 100 years it has been represented by two strong clubs in the West Australian Football League
: East Fremantle
and South Fremantle
. However it was not represented in a national club competition until 1995, eight years after the first expansion of the then Victorian Football League into Western Australia in 1987 with the creation of the West Coast Eagles
.
In February 1996, Levi Strauss & Co.
, which produces the Dockers
brand of clothing, challenged the club's right to use the name "Fremantle Dockers", specifically on clothing. As a result, the club and AFL discontinued the official use of the "Dockers" nickname in 1997. However, the team was still known unofficially as "The Dockers", both inside and outside the club, including in their official team song "Freo Way to Go" and the official club magazine "Docker". In October 2010, the strong association that members and fans have with the "Dockers" nickname lead the club to form a new arrangement with Levi Strauss & Co which allows the club to officially use the nickname "Dockers" as well as use the name on clothing and other brand elements. This name change was made in conjunction with changes to the club logo and playing strip.
The team endured some tough years near the bottom of the premiership ladder, until they finished fifth after the home and away rounds in 2003 and made the finals for the first time. The elimination final against eighth placed Essendon
at Patersons Stadium was then the club's biggest ever game, but ended in disappointment for the home team, with the finals experience of Essendon proving too strong for the young team. They then missed making the finals in the following two seasons, finishing both years with 11 wins, 11 loses and only 1 game outside the top 8.
After an average first half to the 2006 season, Fremantle finished the year with a club record 9 straight wins to earn themselves 3rd position at the end of the home and away season, a club record 15 wins in a year and a double chance for their September finals campaign. In the qualifying final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, the Dockers led for the first three quarters before being overrun by the Crows. The following week (15 September) saw the club win its first finals game in the semi-final against Melbourne
at Patersons Stadium. The club subsequently earned a trip to Sydney to play in its first ever preliminary-final the following Friday night (22 September) at ANZ Stadium against the Sydney Swans
, where they lost by 35 points.
Fremantle is currently one of two clubs in the league (the other team being the Gold Coast Suns) that has not won a premiership (or played in a Grand Final), following Port Adelaide
's win in 2004.
The club is also one of two clubs in the league (the other team being the Gold Coast Suns) to have never to have played in a drawn
match, despite a controversial Round 5 match
against St Kilda at Aurora Stadium
in Launceston, Tasmania
in 2006. The Saints trailed by a point when the final siren sounded, but the field umpires failed to hear the siren which many commentators had noted as being "dangerously quiet" during the game. St Kilda's Steven Baker then scored a behind, levelling the scores, before the siren was sounded a second time. Baker was awarded a free-kick for an infringement after he kicked the point and was allowed to take the kick again – which he also scored a behind from. Immediate protests from Fremantle players and officials failed to have any effect, causing controversy throughout Australian rules circles. However, the AFL overturned the result the following Wednesday—the first time this had occurred since 1900—and awarded the win and four premiership points to Fremantle.
In 2007, following Chris Connolly's resignation midway through the season, Mark Harvey
, a three-time premiership player with Essendon
, was appointed caretaker coach for the club. During his seven matches for 2007, Harvey coached the Dockers to four wins and three losses. The club came 11th that year. The following year saw the club slumped to 14th.
In Round 15, 2009, Fremantle achieved the lowest score in its history and of the noughties, scoring only 1.7 (13) to the Adelaide Crows' 19.16 (130). It was held to just one point in the first half and the only goal scored came in the third quarter. Earlier that year, in Round 4, they scored their lowest ever score in Melbourne, 4.4.(28), against eventual runners-up .
After finishing 6th in the 2010 regular season, the team booked their first finals appearance since 2006 and third ever home final. The team played Hawthorn
at Patersons Stadium and despite being considered underdogs, went on to win by 30 points. The win came from strong performances from Luke McPharlin and Adam McPhee who limited the impact of Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge, respectively. The team's second ever win in a finals match qualified them for a semifinal to be played against the Geelong Cats at the MCG the following week. In a one-sided contest, Geelong won easily by 69 points.
Season 2011 saw Fremantle lose just once in the first six rounds (against ), before injury struck to several players, none more important than premier ruckman Aaron Sandilands
. The Dockers ended up finishing 11th on the ladder after losing their last 7 games of the season, with the injury list growing longer each week. Key players Matthew Pavlich, David Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Luke McPharlin (late withdrawal), Hayden Ballantyne, Adam McPhee, Nick Lower (suspended) and Matthew de Boer all missed the final game of the season against the Western Bulldogs, which was Mark Harvey's last game as senior coach of Fremantle.
, who they play twice each year in the home and away season, in the fiercely contested "Western Derby
" matches (Derby is pronounced ˈ in Western Australia). West Coast were victorious in the first nine games, before Fremantle won in round 16, 1999. Since 2006, when the Dockers won both derbies in a season for the first time, Fremantle has been the more successful team, winning nine of the twelve games, including seven in a row between 2007 and 2010. The term derby is named after the Fremantle Derby games between East
and South Fremantle
in the West Australian Football League
, which for almost 100 years have been considered some of the most important games in the local league. The 1979 WANFL Grand Final still holds the Subiaco Oval
football attendance record of 52,781.
and it was decided during the week that as the siren had gone Fremantle were judged to be the winners, disallowing Baker's point.
The rivalry intensified during the 2011 off-season when Fremantle controversially sacked coach Mark Harvey
and replaced him with St Kilda's coach Ross Lyon
in equally controversial circumstances. The move was met with much criticism towards Fremantle's president, Steve Harris, and CEO, Steve Rosich, claiming that they had "backstabbed" Harvey. Lyon was also met with wide-spread criticsm and was accused of backstabbing St Kilda by many Saints supporters as the club was made aware that Fremantle had approached Lyon during St Kilda's lead-up to its finals campaign.
Such is the large interest in the future contests between Fremantle and St Kilda for this reason, the AFL has provided two "blockbuster" games between the two clubs for the 2012 AFL season
, with the first match being on prime-time Friday night in Round 4 at Etihad Stadium.
The rivalry is set to intensify after defender Zac Dawson
quit the Saints after rumours that he had been offered a three year contract in excess of $1,000,000 by former coach Ross Lyon at Fremantle.
.
The club encourages fans to attend Monday night training sessions, when players remain on the field after training to meet their supporters and sign autographs.
The team's home games are played at Patersons Stadium which has naming rights over Subiaco Oval. Between 1995 and 2000 they also played home games at the WACA Ground
.
is the Fremantle Football Club's annual fairest and best
award. Currently, the Fremantle coaching staff give every player votes on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis after every match, including Finals Series matches. Top votes are awarded for what is regarded as an elite performance. At the end of the year the votes are tallied and the Doig Medal Night is held to announce the winner. Variations on the voting system have been used in past years. The awards ceremony has been held at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal (1995), Challenge Stadium
(1998–1999), Fremantle Oval
(2000–2001), the Grand Ballroom at Burswood Entertainment Complex
(2002–2005, 2008–current) and the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
(2006–2007).
The Beacon Award is presented to the club's best first year player. Mature aged recruits Michael Barlow
and Tendai Mzungu
have won in recent years, despite being significantly older than most first year players.
Until 2011 the Fremantle Football Club used the anchor symbol as the basis for all of their guernseys
. The home guernsey was purple, with a white anchor on the front separating the chest area into two panels, which were coloured red and green to represent the traditional maritime port and starboard colours. The away or clash guernsey was all white with a purple anchor. Since the end of the 2010 home and away season the home jumper is purple with 3 white chevrons and the away jumper is white with 3 purple chevrons.
One game each year is designated as the Purple Haze game, where an all-purple jumper with a white anchor is worn. This game is used to raise money for the Starlight Foundation. After the guernsey re-design to a predominately purple home jumper, Fremantle wore the starlight foundation logo, a yellow star, above the highest chevron for their Purple Haze game.
Since 2003, the AFL has marketed one round each year as the Heritage Round. Until 2006 Fremantle wore a white guernsey with 3 red chevrons, to emulate the jumper worn by the original Fremantle Football Club in 1885. However in 2007, the selected round had Fremantle playing Sydney, who also wear red and white. An alternative blue and white striped design was used, based on the jumper worn by the East Fremantle Football Club
in their 1979 WAFL
Grand Final win over the South Fremantle Football Club
. This Fremantle Derby still holds the record for the highest attendance at a football game of any code in Western Australia, with 52,781 attending at Patersons Stadium.
In September 2008, newly appointed CEO Steve Rosich confirmed that the Fremantle Football Club would undergo a thorough review of all areas, including the club's team name, song, guernsey and logo in a bid to boost its marketability. However he later confirmed that the purple colour will be maintained as it had become synonymous with Fremantle.
team songs, it is played to a contemporary rock tune but is based on a traditional Igor Stravinsky
arrangement of a Russian folk song, Song of the Volga Boatmen
.
The song is regarded with a great deal of derision from many opposition supporters and equally fierce loyalty from many fans. At the end of the 2010 season, there was speculation that the song would be changed at the same time as the jumper and logo was changed, but only a review of the song was announced.
On 26 October 2011, the official website of the Dockers released four options for members to vote on to be the club song in 2012 and beyond. One of the songs titled "Freo Freo" was written by Australian indie-rock group and the Dockers' number one ticket holder Eskimo Joe
.
Despite a relative lack of on-field success, Fremantle has surprised many with record membership figures.
The club in 2005 had the fastest growing membership in the AFL competition with home crowds growing at a similar rate. The club's recent membership slogans have emphasised the passion of Fremantle fans for their team.
was inaugurated by Fremantle Football Club in 1995, in recognition of the new AFL team’s links with its home city’s football heritage. The inductees are nominated by the two clubs from the Fremantle area in the WAFL: East Fremantle
and South Fremantle
. In time, players who represented Fremantle in the AFL will join their predecessors in this prestigious Hall.
It is traditional for each club to recognise a prominent supporter as the No. 1 Ticketholder. Fremantle originally chose to award this to the sitting member for the Federal Seat of Fremantle. This was roundly criticised as the member may or may not be a Fremantle football supporter and unnecessarily linked politics with sport. The policy was soon changed to select a well-known Fremantle identity for a two year period.
On 23 April 2010 Eskimo Joe
were announced as the number one ticketholder for the Fremantle Football Club, replacing golfer Nick O'Hern
. The band's drummer and guitarist Joel Quartermain
hinted that they might pen a new theme song for the club
Other high profile fans include former Premier of Western Australia Alan Carpenter
, Federal Minister of Defence Stephen Smith
, author Tim Winton
and journalists and television presenters Dixie Marshall
, Simon Reeve
and the late Matt Price
.
as its patron
.
Vice-Patrons
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team which plays in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). The club is based in the port city of Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
at the mouth of the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
in Western Australia. In 1995
1995 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:...
it became the second team from Western Australia to be admitted to the national Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
competition, honouring the rich footballing tradition and history associated with Fremantle.
Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich
Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
has been club captain since the beginning of the 2007 season
2007 AFL season
The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia...
. High profile players since the club's inception include Pavlich, the league's tallest ever player Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands is an Australian rules footballer. At 211 cm tall and weighing 122 kg , he is the heaviest and equal tallest player in the history of the game...
, former captains Peter Bell
Peter F. Bell
Peter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
and Shaun McManus
Shaun McManus
Shaun John McManus is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and is often seen as an icon or favourite son of the club...
, former number one draft pick Clive Waterhouse
Clive Waterhouse
Clive Waterhouse is a former Australian rules footballer. He played in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club as a half-forward flanker...
, winners of the AFL Rising Star award Paul Hasleby
Paul Hasleby
Paul Hasleby is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the and South Fremantle Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League...
and current Greater Western Sydney Giants midfielder Rhys Palmer
Rhys Palmer
Rhys Palmer is an Australian rules footballer who is currently contracted to in the Australian Football League. He previously played for , and won the AFL Rising Star award in 2008.-Early life:...
, defender Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin
Luke McPharlin is an Australian rules football player for the Fremantle Football Club. McPharlin was educated at Christ Church Grammar School, graduating in 1999. McPharlin is both a key back and a key forward....
and forward Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer (footballer)
Jeff Farmer is a former Australian rules footballer of Aboriginal descent. He was the first indigenous player to kick 400 goals in the Australian Football League .-Melbourne career:...
.
The club is coached by former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:...
following the sacking of Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
at the end of the 2011 AFL home and away season.
History
The AFL announced on 14 December 1993 that a new team would enter the league in 1995 and be based in Fremantle. The names "Fremantle Football Club", "Fremantle Dockers" and club colours were announced on 12 July 1994. Their first training session was held on 31 October 1994 at Fremantle OvalFremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Fremantle. The first match to be played in Fremantle occurred in the 1880s and the city quickly became a stronghold of the code, with Fremantle based teams winning 24 of the first 34 WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
premierships. For over 100 years it has been represented by two strong clubs in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
: East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
and South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
. However it was not represented in a national club competition until 1995, eight years after the first expansion of the then Victorian Football League into Western Australia in 1987 with the creation of the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
.
In February 1996, Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
, which produces the Dockers
Dockers
Dockers is a brand of khaki garments from Levi Strauss & Co.Levi Strauss & Co., then specialized in denim, introduced the Dockers brand in 1986. Dockers became a leading brand of business casual clothing for men led by Bob Siegel. In 1987, Dockers introduced a women's line...
brand of clothing, challenged the club's right to use the name "Fremantle Dockers", specifically on clothing. As a result, the club and AFL discontinued the official use of the "Dockers" nickname in 1997. However, the team was still known unofficially as "The Dockers", both inside and outside the club, including in their official team song "Freo Way to Go" and the official club magazine "Docker". In October 2010, the strong association that members and fans have with the "Dockers" nickname lead the club to form a new arrangement with Levi Strauss & Co which allows the club to officially use the nickname "Dockers" as well as use the name on clothing and other brand elements. This name change was made in conjunction with changes to the club logo and playing strip.
The team endured some tough years near the bottom of the premiership ladder, until they finished fifth after the home and away rounds in 2003 and made the finals for the first time. The elimination final against eighth placed Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at Patersons Stadium was then the club's biggest ever game, but ended in disappointment for the home team, with the finals experience of Essendon proving too strong for the young team. They then missed making the finals in the following two seasons, finishing both years with 11 wins, 11 loses and only 1 game outside the top 8.
After an average first half to the 2006 season, Fremantle finished the year with a club record 9 straight wins to earn themselves 3rd position at the end of the home and away season, a club record 15 wins in a year and a double chance for their September finals campaign. In the qualifying final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, the Dockers led for the first three quarters before being overrun by the Crows. The following week (15 September) saw the club win its first finals game in the semi-final against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
at Patersons Stadium. The club subsequently earned a trip to Sydney to play in its first ever preliminary-final the following Friday night (22 September) at ANZ Stadium against the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, where they lost by 35 points.
Fremantle is currently one of two clubs in the league (the other team being the Gold Coast Suns) that has not won a premiership (or played in a Grand Final), following Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
's win in 2004.
The club is also one of two clubs in the league (the other team being the Gold Coast Suns) to have never to have played in a drawn
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
match, despite a controversial Round 5 match
AFL siren controversy, 2006
The AFL siren controversy of 2006 surrounded the conclusion and result of an Australian rules football match played on 30 April 2006 during Round 5 of the Australian Football League's 2006 season...
against St Kilda at Aurora Stadium
Aurora Stadium
York Park is a sports ground in the Inveresk and York Park Precinct, Launceston, Australia. Holding 20,000 people—more than any other stadium in Tasmania—York Park has been known as Aurora Stadium under a six-year naming rights agreement signed with Aurora Energy in 2004...
in Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
in 2006. The Saints trailed by a point when the final siren sounded, but the field umpires failed to hear the siren which many commentators had noted as being "dangerously quiet" during the game. St Kilda's Steven Baker then scored a behind, levelling the scores, before the siren was sounded a second time. Baker was awarded a free-kick for an infringement after he kicked the point and was allowed to take the kick again – which he also scored a behind from. Immediate protests from Fremantle players and officials failed to have any effect, causing controversy throughout Australian rules circles. However, the AFL overturned the result the following Wednesday—the first time this had occurred since 1900—and awarded the win and four premiership points to Fremantle.
Recent history
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
, a three-time premiership player with Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, was appointed caretaker coach for the club. During his seven matches for 2007, Harvey coached the Dockers to four wins and three losses. The club came 11th that year. The following year saw the club slumped to 14th.
In Round 15, 2009, Fremantle achieved the lowest score in its history and of the noughties, scoring only 1.7 (13) to the Adelaide Crows' 19.16 (130). It was held to just one point in the first half and the only goal scored came in the third quarter. Earlier that year, in Round 4, they scored their lowest ever score in Melbourne, 4.4.(28), against eventual runners-up .
After finishing 6th in the 2010 regular season, the team booked their first finals appearance since 2006 and third ever home final. The team played Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at Patersons Stadium and despite being considered underdogs, went on to win by 30 points. The win came from strong performances from Luke McPharlin and Adam McPhee who limited the impact of Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge, respectively. The team's second ever win in a finals match qualified them for a semifinal to be played against the Geelong Cats at the MCG the following week. In a one-sided contest, Geelong won easily by 69 points.
Season 2011 saw Fremantle lose just once in the first six rounds (against ), before injury struck to several players, none more important than premier ruckman Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands
Aaron Sandilands is an Australian rules footballer. At 211 cm tall and weighing 122 kg , he is the heaviest and equal tallest player in the history of the game...
. The Dockers ended up finishing 11th on the ladder after losing their last 7 games of the season, with the injury list growing longer each week. Key players Matthew Pavlich, David Mundy, Nathan Fyfe, Luke McPharlin (late withdrawal), Hayden Ballantyne, Adam McPhee, Nick Lower (suspended) and Matthew de Boer all missed the final game of the season against the Western Bulldogs, which was Mark Harvey's last game as senior coach of Fremantle.
Western Derby
Fremantle's biggest rivalry is with the other Western Australian team, the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, who they play twice each year in the home and away season, in the fiercely contested "Western Derby
Western Derby
The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football rivalry match between the Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles, who both participate in the Australian Football League . As both teams are based in Western Australia, the term 'derby' is used to describe the...
" matches (Derby is pronounced ˈ in Western Australia). West Coast were victorious in the first nine games, before Fremantle won in round 16, 1999. Since 2006, when the Dockers won both derbies in a season for the first time, Fremantle has been the more successful team, winning nine of the twelve games, including seven in a row between 2007 and 2010. The term derby is named after the Fremantle Derby games between East
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
and South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, which for almost 100 years have been considered some of the most important games in the local league. The 1979 WANFL Grand Final still holds the Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
football attendance record of 52,781.
St Kilda rivalry
The history of rivalry between the Dockers and the St Kilda Football Club dates back to 2006 and the infamous AFL siren controversy at York Park. The match was set into a state of confusion with Fremantle leading by one point when the siren (which had not been very loud all game) was not heard by the umpires who then allowed St Kilda tagger Steven Baker to score a point after time had elapsed and, as a result, the match ended in a draw. The outcome of the game was taken to the AFL CommissionAFL Commission
The AFL Commission is the official governing body of the Australian Football League , the elite national Australian rules football competition....
and it was decided during the week that as the siren had gone Fremantle were judged to be the winners, disallowing Baker's point.
The rivalry intensified during the 2011 off-season when Fremantle controversially sacked coach Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey
Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005...
and replaced him with St Kilda's coach Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:...
in equally controversial circumstances. The move was met with much criticism towards Fremantle's president, Steve Harris, and CEO, Steve Rosich, claiming that they had "backstabbed" Harvey. Lyon was also met with wide-spread criticsm and was accused of backstabbing St Kilda by many Saints supporters as the club was made aware that Fremantle had approached Lyon during St Kilda's lead-up to its finals campaign.
Such is the large interest in the future contests between Fremantle and St Kilda for this reason, the AFL has provided two "blockbuster" games between the two clubs for the 2012 AFL season
2012 AFL season
The 2012 Australian Football League season is the 116th season of the Australian rules football competition. It is the first season in which the new will compete, bringing the number of teams in the competition to a record high eighteen....
, with the first match being on prime-time Friday night in Round 4 at Etihad Stadium.
The rivalry is set to intensify after defender Zac Dawson
Zac Dawson
Zac Dawson is an Australian rules footballer who has played for the Hawthorn and St Kilda Football Clubs in the Australian Football League .-AFL career:- Hawthorn :...
quit the Saints after rumours that he had been offered a three year contract in excess of $1,000,000 by former coach Ross Lyon at Fremantle.
Club
Fremantle Football Club has its training and administration facilities at Fremantle OvalFremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
.
The club encourages fans to attend Monday night training sessions, when players remain on the field after training to meet their supporters and sign autographs.
The team's home games are played at Patersons Stadium which has naming rights over Subiaco Oval. Between 1995 and 2000 they also played home games at the WACA Ground
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
.
Current squad
- See also Fremantle Football Club drafting and trading historyFremantle Football Club drafting and trading historyFremantle Football Club's drafting and trading history is often cited as a reason for their poor on-field record, in not winning a finals game in their first 11 seasons....
for the complete list of Fremantle's draft selections, delistings and trades
Current coaching staff
- Senior Coach: Ross LyonRoss LyonRoss Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:...
- Assistant Coaches:
- Simon Lloyd (also Senior Development Coach)
- Michael PriorMichael PriorMichael Prior is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the AFL's Essendon Football Club and the West Coast Eagles....
- Todd CurleyTodd CurleyTodd Curley is a former Australian Rules Footballer, who played for Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League, and who coached West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League....
- Mark Stone
Leadership
| Seasons | Captain Captain (sports) In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field... | Coach | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1996 | Ben Allan Ben Allan Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Allan is a former Australian rules footballer. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth- Hawthorn career :He played as a rover... |
Gerard Neesham Gerard Neesham Gerard Neesham is a former Australian rules footballer in the WAFL and VFL as well as coach in the WAFL and AFL. Today he is chief executive of the Clontarf Foundation.-Playing career:... |
|
| 1997–1998 | Peter Mann Peter Mann Peter Travis Mann is a former Australian rules footballer. who played a total of 118 matches in the AFL for the North Melbourne and Fremantle Football Clubs.- Claremont, West Coast and North Melbourne :... |
Gerard Neesham Gerard Neesham Gerard Neesham is a former Australian rules footballer in the WAFL and VFL as well as coach in the WAFL and AFL. Today he is chief executive of the Clontarf Foundation.-Playing career:... |
|
| 1999 | Chris Bond Chris Bond Chris Bond is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a rover for the , and Fremantle Football Clubs in the Australian Football League . Since retiring as a player he has coached Werribee in the Victorian Football League and has also been an assistant coach for the Western Bulldogs... |
Damian Drum Damian Drum Damian Kevin Drum is the Nationals member for Northern Victoria Region in the Victorian parliament, Australia. He is also a former Australian rules footballer and coach, most notably as senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2001. He turned to... |
|
| 2000–2001 | Shaun McManus Shaun McManus Shaun John McManus is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and is often seen as an icon or favourite son of the club... & Adrian Fletcher Adrian Fletcher Adrian Fletcher is a former Australian rules footballer and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League clubs in his 13 year career... (co-captains) |
Damian Drum Damian Drum Damian Kevin Drum is the Nationals member for Northern Victoria Region in the Victorian parliament, Australia. He is also a former Australian rules footballer and coach, most notably as senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2001. He turned to... /Ben Allan Ben Allan Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Allan is a former Australian rules footballer. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth- Hawthorn career :He played as a rover... from Rd 10, 2001 |
|
| 2002–2006 | Peter Bell Peter F. Bell Peter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team... |
Chris Connolly Chris Connolly Chris Connolly is the current Melbourne Football Club football manager as well as assistant coach.-Playing career:... |
|
| 2007 | Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .... |
Chris Connolly Chris Connolly Chris Connolly is the current Melbourne Football Club football manager as well as assistant coach.-Playing career:... /Mark Harvey Mark Harvey Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005... from Rd 16 |
|
| 2008-2011 | Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .... |
Mark Harvey Mark Harvey Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005... |
|
| 2012 | TBC TBC TBC, an abbreviation often used for "to be confirmed", "to be continued" or "to be concluded", may also refer to:* 4-tert-Butylcatechol, an antioxidant... |
Ross Lyon Ross Lyon Ross Lyon is a former Australian rules football player for Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He is the current senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Playing career:... |
Awards
The Doig MedalDoig Medal
The Doig Medal is the best and fairest award given out to the player considered best and fairest during a season for the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL....
is the Fremantle Football Club's annual fairest and best
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award. Currently, the Fremantle coaching staff give every player votes on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis after every match, including Finals Series matches. Top votes are awarded for what is regarded as an elite performance. At the end of the year the votes are tallied and the Doig Medal Night is held to announce the winner. Variations on the voting system have been used in past years. The awards ceremony has been held at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal (1995), Challenge Stadium
Challenge Stadium
Challenge Stadium is a sports complex in the suburb of Mount Claremont, west of Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It was opened in 1986 and is home to the Western Australian Institute of Sport. The main indoor arena holds 4,500 people...
(1998–1999), Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval
Fremantle Oval is a stadium in the centre of Fremantle, Western Australia. It currently has a capacity of 17,500 with terracing and a members area holding 750. Fremantle Oval was originally used for cricket, but in 1895 hosted its first game of Australian rules football...
(2000–2001), the Grand Ballroom at Burswood Entertainment Complex
Burswood Entertainment Complex
The Burswood Entertainment Complex is located on the Swan River near the city of Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by Crown Limited. The complex includes a 24-hour casino, seven restaurants, eight bars, a nightclub, two international hotels , a Convention Centre, Theatre and the Burswood Dome...
(2002–2005, 2008–current) and the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is a convention centre located in Perth, Western Australia. It was opened in August 2004.-History:The Centre was built by Multiplex and it opened on the 24th August 2004....
(2006–2007).
The Beacon Award is presented to the club's best first year player. Mature aged recruits Michael Barlow
Michael Barlow
Michael Barlow is an Australian rules footballer. He plays with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
and Tendai Mzungu
Tendai Mzungu
Tendai Mzungu is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League ....
have won in recent years, despite being significantly older than most first year players.
| Season | Doig Medal Winners | Beacon Award Winners | Best Clubman | Leading Goalkicker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Peter Mann Peter Mann Peter Travis Mann is a former Australian rules footballer. who played a total of 118 matches in the AFL for the North Melbourne and Fremantle Football Clubs.- Claremont, West Coast and North Melbourne :... |
Scott Chisholm Scott Chisholm (footballer) Scott Chisholm is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fremantle and Melbourne in the Australian Football League between 1995 and 2000... |
Peter Mann Peter Mann Peter Travis Mann is a former Australian rules footballer. who played a total of 118 matches in the AFL for the North Melbourne and Fremantle Football Clubs.- Claremont, West Coast and North Melbourne :... (33) |
|
| 1996 | Stephen O'Reilly Stephen O'Reilly (footballer) Stephen O'Reilly is an Australian rules footballer, who mainly played as a full back. He was educated at Aquinas College, Perth.-WAFL career:... |
Gavin Mitchell Gavin Mitchell (footballer) Gavin Mitchell is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Known for his pace and goalsneak ability, Mitchell debuted with the Fremantle Dockers in 1996, a season where he played 21 matches... |
Kingsley Hunter Kingsley Hunter Kingsley Hunter is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League between 1995 and 2003.... (33) |
|
| 1997 | Dale Kickett Dale Kickett Dale Mathew Kickett is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of only three players, and the only living person to have played for five clubs in the Australian Football League.-Early career:... |
Mark Gale Mark Gale Mark Gale is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League . He played for both the Fremantle Football Club and the St Kilda Football Club, mainly as a wingman.... |
Kingsley Hunter (32) | |
| 1998 | Jason Norrish Jason Norrish Jason Norrish is an Australian rules footballer. Norrish plays as a defensive midfielder and began his football career at the Claremont Tigers.-Early career:... |
Brad Dodd Brad Dodd Brad Dodd is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .Dodd was originally rookie drafted by the Fremantle Football Club in 1997 from East Fremantle in the West Australian Football League and was elevated to the senior list in 1998, where he made his debut against... |
Chris Bond Chris Bond Chris Bond is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a rover for the , and Fremantle Football Clubs in the Australian Football League . Since retiring as a player he has coached Werribee in the Victorian Football League and has also been an assistant coach for the Western Bulldogs... & Jason Norrish Jason Norrish Jason Norrish is an Australian rules footballer. Norrish plays as a defensive midfielder and began his football career at the Claremont Tigers.-Early career:... |
Clive Waterhouse Clive Waterhouse Clive Waterhouse is a former Australian rules footballer. He played in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club as a half-forward flanker... (30) |
| 1999 | Adrian Fletcher Adrian Fletcher Adrian Fletcher is a former Australian rules footballer and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League clubs in his 13 year career... |
Clem Michael Clem Michael Clem Anthony Michael is a former Australian Rules football player in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club from 1998 to 2000... |
Ashley Prescott Ashley Prescott Ashley Prescott is a former Australian rules footballer. He played with the Richmond and Fremantle Football Clubs in the AFL between 1993 and 2001, was senior coachof the Claremont Football Club in the WAFL from 2004 to 2007 and is currently an assistant coach for the Essendon Football Club in... |
Tony Modra Tony Modra Anthony 'Tony' Dale Modra is a former Australian rules football player, known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best... (71) |
| 2000 | Troy Cook Troy Cook Troy Cook is an Australian rules footballer. Cook plays for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League.-Early career:... |
Paul Hasleby Paul Hasleby Paul Hasleby is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the and South Fremantle Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League... |
Dale Kickett Dale Kickett Dale Mathew Kickett is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of only three players, and the only living person to have played for five clubs in the Australian Football League.-Early career:... & John Rankin |
Clive Waterhouse (53) |
| 2001 | Peter Bell Peter F. Bell Peter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team... |
Dion Woods Dion Woods Dion Woods is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle in the Australian Football League between 2001 and 2005.... |
Leigh Brown Leigh Brown Leigh Brown is a former Australian rules football player who played for Fremantle, North Melbourne and finally Collingwood in the Australian Football League. He is a Collingwood premiership player... |
Justin Longmuir Justin Longmuir Justin Longmuir is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He was a key position forward or ruckman who played for the Fremantle Football Club... & Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .... (28) |
| 2002 | Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich Matthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .... |
Paul Medhurst Paul Medhurst Paul Medhurst is a former professional Australian rules football who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Collingwood Football Club.... |
Shaun McManus Shaun McManus Shaun John McManus is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and is often seen as an icon or favourite son of the club... |
Trent Croad Trent Croad Trent Eric Croad is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .During his 222 game AFL career, he achieved some of the Australian Football League's highest honours including an AFL premiership medallion, All-Australian selection, representing... (42) |
| 2003 | Peter Bell | Graham Polak Graham Polak Graham Polak is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Fremantle career:... |
Troy Longmuir Troy Longmuir Troy John Longmuir is an Australian rules footballer formerly in the Australian Football League . He is the older brother of former Fremantle player Justin Longmuir.... |
Paul Medhurst Paul Medhurst Paul Medhurst is a former professional Australian rules football who played for the Fremantle Football Club and the Collingwood Football Club.... (50) |
| 2004 | Peter Bell | Andrew Browne Andrew Browne Andrew Grahame Browne is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League . He plays as a rover and began his football career at Claremont in the West Australian Football League... |
Matthew Carr Matthew Carr Matthew Carr is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fremantle and St Kilda in the Australian Football League . He played as a half-back flanker and began his football career at East Fremantle... |
Paul Medhurst (41) |
| 2005 | Matthew Pavlich | David Mundy David Mundy David Mundy , in Seymour, Victoria is an Australian rules footballer with the Fremantle Football Club. He plays as a half back flanker or midfielder and began his football career at Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.-Fremantle career:... |
Troy Cook Troy Cook Troy Cook is an Australian rules footballer. Cook plays for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League.-Early career:... |
Matthew Pavlich (61) |
| 2006 | Matthew Pavlich | Marcus Drum Marcus Drum Marcus James Drum is an Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club between 2006 and 2009 before he was traded to Geelong during the 2009 trade week.... |
Luke Webster Luke Webster Luke Webster is a midfielder or defender for the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL. He was drafted to Fremantle as the first selection in the 2001 AFL Rookie Draft and was elevated to the senior list during the 2003 season following an outstanding year for East Perth which included being awarded the... |
Matthew Pavlich (71) |
| 2007 | Matthew Pavlich | Robert Warnock Robert Warnock Robert Warnock is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.A very tall tap ruckman, at a height of 206cm, Warnock played TAC Cup football for the Sandringham Dragons. He was recruited to the AFL by the Fremantle Football Club with the number 42 draft pick in the 2005 AFL... |
Heath Black Heath Black Heath Black is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .The 177 cm wingman is noted for his speed and long left foot kicking. Beginning his career in 1997 he was seen as a bright prospect and several years down the track that has been proven correct... |
Matthew Pavlich (72) |
| 2008 | Matthew Pavlich | Rhys Palmer Rhys Palmer Rhys Palmer is an Australian rules footballer who is currently contracted to in the Australian Football League. He previously played for , and won the AFL Rising Star award in 2008.-Early life:... |
Luke Webster | Matthew Pavlich (67) |
| 2009 | Aaron Sandilands Aaron Sandilands Aaron Sandilands is an Australian rules footballer. At 211 cm tall and weighing 122 kg , he is the heaviest and equal tallest player in the history of the game... |
Stephen Hill Stephen Hill (Australian footballer) Stephen Hill is an Australian rules footballer with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League.-Junior career:... |
Michael Johnson Michael Johnson (Australian rules footballer) Michael Johnson is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Dockers. Recruited from Perth Football Club in the WAFL with selection 8 in the 2004 Preseason Draft, he is a graduate of the Clontarf Football Academy... |
Matthew Pavlich (28) |
| 2010 | David Mundy David Mundy David Mundy , in Seymour, Victoria is an Australian rules footballer with the Fremantle Football Club. He plays as a half back flanker or midfielder and began his football career at Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.-Fremantle career:... |
Michael Barlow Michael Barlow Michael Barlow is an Australian rules footballer. He plays with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early career:... |
Matthew de Boer Matt de Boer Matthew de Boer is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League .... |
Matthew Pavlich (61) |
| 2011 | Matthew Pavlich | Tendai Mzungu Tendai Mzungu Tendai Mzungu is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League .... |
Matthew de Boer | Chris Mayne Chris Mayne Christopher Mayne is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club. He was selected with the 40th selection in the 2007 AFL National Draft from the Perth Football Club in the WAFL. He plays full forward, forward-pocket and half-forward.Mayne spent most of the 2006 season... & Kepler Bradley Kepler Bradley Kepler Bradley is an Australian rules footballer. In November 2007 he was selected by Fremantle in the 2007 AFL Draft. He previously played with Essendon in the Australian Football League. He was delisted by that club at the end of the 2007 season.Bradley was taken high in the 2003 AFL Draft, with... (25) |
Guernsey
Guernsey (clothing)
A guernsey, or gansey, is a seaman's knitted woollen sweater, similar to a jersey, which originated in the Channel Island of the same name.-Origins:...
. The home guernsey was purple, with a white anchor on the front separating the chest area into two panels, which were coloured red and green to represent the traditional maritime port and starboard colours. The away or clash guernsey was all white with a purple anchor. Since the end of the 2010 home and away season the home jumper is purple with 3 white chevrons and the away jumper is white with 3 purple chevrons.
One game each year is designated as the Purple Haze game, where an all-purple jumper with a white anchor is worn. This game is used to raise money for the Starlight Foundation. After the guernsey re-design to a predominately purple home jumper, Fremantle wore the starlight foundation logo, a yellow star, above the highest chevron for their Purple Haze game.
Since 2003, the AFL has marketed one round each year as the Heritage Round. Until 2006 Fremantle wore a white guernsey with 3 red chevrons, to emulate the jumper worn by the original Fremantle Football Club in 1885. However in 2007, the selected round had Fremantle playing Sydney, who also wear red and white. An alternative blue and white striped design was used, based on the jumper worn by the East Fremantle Football Club
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
in their 1979 WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
Grand Final win over the South Fremantle Football Club
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
. This Fremantle Derby still holds the record for the highest attendance at a football game of any code in Western Australia, with 52,781 attending at Patersons Stadium.
In September 2008, newly appointed CEO Steve Rosich confirmed that the Fremantle Football Club would undergo a thorough review of all areas, including the club's team name, song, guernsey and logo in a bid to boost its marketability. However he later confirmed that the purple colour will be maintained as it had become synonymous with Fremantle.
Records
- Premierships: Nil
- Highest ladder position: 3rd, 2006
- Wooden spoons: One (2001)
- Finals series reached: Three (2003, 2006, 2010)
- Biggest winning margin: 112 points, against CollingwoodCollingwood Football ClubThe Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, 8 May 2005, at Patersons Stadium, 28.12 (180) to 10.8 (68) - Biggest losing margin: 117 points, against West CoastWest Coast EaglesThe West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
on 15 April 2000, at Patersons Stadium, 28.10 (178) to 9.7 (61); against Adelaide on 11 July 2009, at AAMI Stadium, 19.16 (130) to 1.7 (13) - Longest winning streak: 9 games (Round 14, 2006 – Round 22, 2006)
- Longest losing streak: 18 games (Round 22, 2000 – Round 17, 2001)
- Highest Score: 28.12 (180) to 10.8 (68), against Collingwood, 8 May 2005, at Patersons Stadium
- Lowest score: 1.7 (13) to 19.16 (130), against Adelaide, 11 July 2009, at AAMI Stadium
Individual awards and records
- Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
lists: None - Norm Smith MedalNorm Smith MedalThe Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
lists: None - Coleman MedalColeman MedalThe Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
lists: None - AFL Rising Star award: Paul HaslebyPaul HaslebyPaul Hasleby is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the and South Fremantle Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League...
, 2000; Rhys PalmerRhys PalmerRhys Palmer is an Australian rules footballer who is currently contracted to in the Australian Football League. He previously played for , and won the AFL Rising Star award in 2008.-Early life:...
, 2008 - All Australians: Matthew PavlichMatthew PavlichMatthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Peter BellPeter F. BellPeter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
2003; Paul Hasleby 2003; Aaron SandilandsAaron SandilandsAaron Sandilands is an Australian rules footballer. At 211 cm tall and weighing 122 kg , he is the heaviest and equal tallest player in the history of the game...
2008, 2009, 2010. - International rules representativesAustralia international rules football teamThis article concerns the men's team; for information on the Australian women's team, see Australia women's international rules football team....
: Heath BlackHeath BlackHeath Black is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League .The 177 cm wingman is noted for his speed and long left foot kicking. Beginning his career in 1997 he was seen as a bright prospect and several years down the track that has been proven correct...
2005; Matthew CarrMatthew CarrMatthew Carr is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Fremantle and St Kilda in the Australian Football League . He played as a half-back flanker and began his football career at East Fremantle...
2003; Ryan CrowleyRyan CrowleyRyan Crowley is an Australian rules footballer. He plays as a midfielder, half forward flanker or small forward and began his football career at Calder Cannons Football Club in the TAC Cup.-Fremantle career:...
2006; Paul DuffieldPaul DuffieldPaul Duffield is an Australian rules footballer. He plays mainly as a half back flanker and began his football career at South Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League.-Fremantle Dockers:...
2010; Robert HaddrillRobert HaddrillRobert "Robbie" Haddrill is a defender for the South Fremantle Football Club, having previously played for the Fremantle Dockers in the AFL for seven seasons....
2004; Paul Hasleby 2003; Garrick IbbotsonGarrick IbbotsonGarrick Ibbotson is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club.Ibbotson mainly played soccer as a junior and only converted to Australian rules football at school at the age of 14...
2010; David MundyDavid MundyDavid Mundy , in Seymour, Victoria is an Australian rules footballer with the Fremantle Football Club. He plays as a half back flanker or midfielder and began his football career at Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup.-Fremantle career:...
2006; Matthew Pavlich 2002, 2003; Brett PeakeBrett PeakeBrett Peake is an Australian Rules Footballer who plays for the St Kilda Football Club. He was traded from the Fremantle Football Club during the 2009 AFL Trade Week....
2006; Clive WaterhouseClive WaterhouseClive Waterhouse is a former Australian rules footballer. He played in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club as a half-forward flanker...
1999 - AFLPA Best First Year Player Award winners: Paul Hasleby 2000; Rhys Palmer 2008; Michael BarlowMichael BarlowMichael Barlow is an Australian rules footballer. He plays with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
2010 - AFLCA Best Young Player Award winners: Stephen HillStephen HillStephen Hill is a United States producer, creator and host of the long-running Hearts of Space radio program, which features "contemporary space music" from a variety of musicians and genres...
2010; Nathan FyfeNathan FyfeNathan "the Knife" Fyfe is an Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League. He was selected by the Dockers with the twentieth pick in the 2009 AFL Draft. Fyfe is a very natural player with a good mark and leap.-Background:Fyfe grew up at Lake Grace,...
2011 - Most games: Matthew Pavlich, 256 games (as of 2011)
- Most consecutive games: Matthew Pavlich, 160 games (Rd 15 2001 – Rd 16 2008)
- Most goals: Matthew Pavlich, 489 goals (as of 2011)
- Most goals in a season: 72 Matthew Pavlich, 2007
- Most goals in a game: 10 Tony ModraTony ModraAnthony 'Tony' Dale Modra is a former Australian rules football player, known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best...
vs MelbourneMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, Rd 10 1999, MCGMelbourne Cricket GroundThe Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light... - Mark of the YearMark of the YearThe annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
winners: Tony Modra 2000; Luke McPharlinLuke McPharlinLuke McPharlin is an Australian rules football player for the Fremantle Football Club. McPharlin was educated at Christ Church Grammar School, graduating in 1999. McPharlin is both a key back and a key forward....
2005 - Goal of the YearGoal of the Year (Australia)The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goals kicked in the VFL/AFL during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Panasonic. The award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal....
winners: Winston AbrahamWinston AbrahamWinston Abraham is a former Australian rules footballer. During his AFL career he played as a half forward.-Early career:Abraham played in the Western Australian Sunday Football League for Thornlie and Kelmscott...
1996; Hayden BallantyneHayden BallantyneHayden Ballantyne is an Australian rules footballer, who was selected by Fremantle in the 2008 AFL Draft. He was recruited from Peel Thunder in the WAFL...
2011
Attendance records
- Record attendance (home and away game): 45,436, Round 1, 30 March 2003 at AAMI StadiumAAMI StadiumFootball Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
v Adelaide - Record attendance (home game): 42,770, Elimination Final, Sept 5 2003 at Patersons Stadium v EssendonEssendon Football ClubThe Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. - Record attendance (finals match): 61,373, Preliminary Final, Sept 22, 2006 at ANZ Stadium v SydneySydney SwansThe Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Finals results
| Year | Final | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Score (Fremantle's score is in bold) | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2003.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
1st Elimination Final | Friday, 5 September | Home | 8.9 (57) – 15.11 (101) | −44 | Patersons Stadium | |
| 2006 2006 AFL finals series - The finals system :The system is a final eight system. This system is different to the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and is currently used by the National Rugby League.... |
2nd Qualifying Final | Saturday, 9 September | Away | 10.16 (76) – 7.4 (46) | −30 | AAMI Stadium AAMI Stadium Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia... |
|
| 2nd Semi-Final | Friday, 15 September | Home | 14.18 (102) – 11.8 (74) | +28 | Patersons Stadium | ||
| 1st Preliminary Final | Friday, 22 September | Away | 19.13 (127) – 14.8 (92) | −35 | ANZ Stadium | ||
| 2010 2010 AFL finals series The Australian Football League's 2010 finals series determined the top eight final positions of the 2010 AFL season. The series was scheduled to occur over four weekends in September 2010, culminating with the 114th AFL/VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September 2010... |
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| 2nd Elimination Final | Saturday, 4 September | Home | 14.10 (94) – 8.16 (64) | +30 | Patersons Stadium | ||
| 2nd Semi-Final | Friday, 10 September | Away | 20.15 (135) – 10.6 (66) | −69 | MCG Melbourne Cricket Ground The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light... |
Song
The official song of the club is Freo way to Go. It was written in the mid 1990s by Ken Walther and unlike many of the other Australian rulesAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
team songs, it is played to a contemporary rock tune but is based on a traditional Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
arrangement of a Russian folk song, Song of the Volga Boatmen
The Volga Boatmen's Song
The "Song of the Volga Boatmen" is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs in 1866. It is a genuine shanty sung by burlaks, or barge-haulers, on the Volga River. Balakirev published it with only one verse . The other two verses...
.
The song is regarded with a great deal of derision from many opposition supporters and equally fierce loyalty from many fans. At the end of the 2010 season, there was speculation that the song would be changed at the same time as the jumper and logo was changed, but only a review of the song was announced.
On 26 October 2011, the official website of the Dockers released four options for members to vote on to be the club song in 2012 and beyond. One of the songs titled "Freo Freo" was written by Australian indie-rock group and the Dockers' number one ticket holder Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
.
Membership base
The club in 2005 had the fastest growing membership in the AFL competition with home crowds growing at a similar rate. The club's recent membership slogans have emphasised the passion of Fremantle fans for their team.
| Season | Members | Change from previous season | Finishing position | Average home match crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 1995 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1995.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:*This was the first ANZAC Day clash held between Collingwood and Essendon which famously ended in a draw.-Round 5:-Round 6:... |
18,456 | – | 13th | 23,361 |
| 1996 1996 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1996.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Lighting Premiership:... |
19,622 | 1166 (+6.32%) | 13th | 22,473 |
| 1997 1997 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1997.The Port Adelaide Power joined the competition.The Brisbane Lions also joined the competition after the merger of the and .... |
19,949 | 327 (+1.67%) | 12th | 21,982 |
| 1998 | 22,186 | 2237 (+11.21%) | 15th | 23,104 |
| 1999 | 24,896 | 2710 (+12.21%) | 15th | 23,972 |
| 2000 | 24,925 | 29 (+0.12%) | 12th | 22,357 |
| 2001 2001 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2001.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane Lions 17.9 to 3.8 in the Final.... |
23,898 | 1027 (−4.12%) | 16th | 21,258 |
| 2002 2002 AFL season -Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 176... |
23,775 | 123 (−0.51%) | 13th | 26,359 |
| 2003 2003 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2003.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
25,347 | 1572 (+6.61%) | 5th | 30,681 |
| 2004 2004 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St... |
32,259 | 6912 (+27.27%) | 9th | 36,258 |
| 2005 2005 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
34,124 | 1865 (+5.78%) | 10th | 35,224 |
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
35,666 | 1542 (+4.52%) | 3rd | 36,569 |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
43,343 | 7677 (+21.52%) | 11th | 37,474 |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
43,366 | 23 (+0.05%) | 14th | 35,877 |
| 2009 2009 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:... |
39,206 | 4160 (−9.6%) | 14th | 33,144 |
| 2010 2010 AFL season -Premiership season:The draw for the 2010 AFL Premiership Season is not a random selection of matches, but rather is planned by the AFL. It is intended to produce a balanced draw while also providing the fans and television networks with blockbuster games. In a competition with 16 teams and 22... |
39,854 | 648 (+1.63%) | 6th | 36,572 |
| 2011 2011 AFL season The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams... |
42,762 | 2908 (+6.8%) | 11th | 34,394 |
Fremantle Football Hall of Legends
The Fremantle Football Hall of LegendsFremantle Football Hall of Legends
The Fremantle Football Hall of Legends was inaugurated by the Fremantle Football Club in 1995, in recognition of the new Australian Football League team’s links with its home city’s football heritage. The inductees are nominated by the two clubs from the Fremantle area in the West Australian...
was inaugurated by Fremantle Football Club in 1995, in recognition of the new AFL team’s links with its home city’s football heritage. The inductees are nominated by the two clubs from the Fremantle area in the WAFL: East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
and South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
. In time, players who represented Fremantle in the AFL will join their predecessors in this prestigious Hall.
Number 1 Ticket Holders
On 23 April 2010 Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe
Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997....
were announced as the number one ticketholder for the Fremantle Football Club, replacing golfer Nick O'Hern
Nick O'Hern
Nicholas Simon O'Hern is an Australian professional golfer.O'Hern has played on both of the world's premier professional golf tours, the European Tour, and the United States based PGA Tour...
. The band's drummer and guitarist Joel Quartermain
Joel Quartermain
Joel Quartermain is the guitarist, back-up singer, recording drummer and pianist of the Australian band Eskimo Joe. He spent a lot of his childhood focused on radio and tapes. In 1989, he moved to Perth, where he attended Hollywood Senior High School...
hinted that they might pen a new theme song for the club
| Year | Number 1 Ticket Holder |
|---|---|
| 1995–1996 | Carmen Lawrence Carmen Lawrence Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia.... |
| 1997–2002 | Jack Sheedy Jack Sheedy (Australian rules footballer) John Cameron "Jack" Sheedy is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League . Sheedy is considered one of the greatest ever footballers from Western Australia, and is a member of both... & Steve Marsh Steve Marsh Steve Marsh is a former Australian rules footballer in the West Australian National Football League . Marsh was regarded as one of the finest rovers of his era... |
| 2003–2005 | Rove McManus Rove McManus John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises... |
| 2006–2007 | Luc Longley Luc Longley Lucien James "Luc" Longley is a retired Australian professional basketball player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA, where he played for eleven seasons... |
| 2008 | Jesse Dart (#1 Junior Ticket Holder) |
| 2009 | Nick O'Hern Nick O'Hern Nicholas Simon O'Hern is an Australian professional golfer.O'Hern has played on both of the world's premier professional golf tours, the European Tour, and the United States based PGA Tour... |
| 2010-2011 | Eskimo Joe Eskimo Joe Eskimo Joe is an Australian alternative rock band formed by Stuart MacLeod on guitars, Joel Quartermain on drums and guitar and Kavyen Temperley on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia in 1997.... |
Other high profile fans include former Premier of Western Australia Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
, Federal Minister of Defence Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith (Australian politician)
Stephen Francis Smith , is the Australian Minister for Defence. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1993, representing the Division of Perth, Western Australia....
, author Tim Winton
Tim Winton
Timothy John "Tim" Winton , is an Australian novelist and short story writer.-Life:Winton was born in Perth, Western Australia, but moved at a young age to the regional city of Albany....
and journalists and television presenters Dixie Marshall
Dixie Marshall
Dixie Marshall was previously a senior news presenter for Nine News Perth.She held the position from 2002 until 2011 despite low ratings, although she has been with the Nine Network since 1984, and previously worked for The Australian Newspaper and Radio 6PR.Dixie was one of the first female sports...
, Simon Reeve
Simon Reeve (Australian television presenter)
Simon Reeve is an Australian television presenter and host of many shows on the Seven Network. Reeve is currently the sports presenter on Weekend Sunrise, reporter on Sunrise, and the host of the children's quiz show It's Academic, as well as a fill-in presenter for Seven News.Simon commenced his...
and the late Matt Price
Matt Price
Matt Price was a Western Australian journalist and newspaper columnist. He was educated at Newman College, Churchands and the University of Western Australia, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1984...
.
Patrons
Since 2003, the Fremantle Football Club has had the Governors of Western AustraliaGovernor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
as its patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
.
- 2003–2005: John SandersonJohn SandersonLieutenant General John Murray Sanderson AC is a former Governor of Western Australia and a former Chief of the Australian Army.-Early life:...
- 2006–present: Ken MichaelKen MichaelKenneth Comninos Michael, AC was the 32nd Governor of Western Australia, succeeding Lieutenant-General John Sanderson.His vice-regal appointment was announced on 6 June 2005 by the then Premier Geoff Gallop and he was sworn in at Government House, Perth on 18 January 2006 by the Chief Justice of...
Vice-Patrons
- David MalcolmDavid MalcolmDavid Kingsley Malcolm, AC, QC is an Australian lawyer and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1988 until his retirement from the bench on 7 February 2006....
– Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia (retired) - Syd Corser
- Con ReganCon ReganCornelius "Con" Regan was an Australian rules footballer for the East Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian National Football League from 1953 until 1965....
- Steve MarshSteve MarshSteve Marsh is a former Australian rules footballer in the West Australian National Football League . Marsh was regarded as one of the finest rovers of his era...
- Jack SheedyJack Sheedy (Australian rules footballer)John Cameron "Jack" Sheedy is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League . Sheedy is considered one of the greatest ever footballers from Western Australia, and is a member of both...
Mascots
- 1995–1999: Grinder – A cartoon-like dockerStevedoreStevedore, dockworker, docker, dock labourer, wharfie and longshoreman can have various waterfront-related meanings concerning loading and unloading ships, according to place and country....
man, in a similar style to PopeyePopeyePopeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
, with a permanent snarl, oversized jaw and muscular arms. - 2000–2001: The Doc – a straggly blonde-haired mascot, similar in appearance to Fremantle players Clive WaterhouseClive WaterhouseClive Waterhouse is a former Australian rules footballer. He played in the Australian Football League for the Fremantle Football Club as a half-forward flanker...
or Shaun McManusShaun McManusShaun John McManus is a former Australian rules footballer. He is one of the most popular players to ever represent the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and is often seen as an icon or favourite son of the club...
. - 2002–present: Johnny "The Doc" Docker – a blonde haired surfer with a surfboard under one arm is the Docker's official mascot in the Mascot Manor promotion for kids.
See also
- List of Fremantle players – Alphabetical
- List of Fremantle Dockers league players – Ordered by debut
- Australian rules football in Western AustraliaAustralian rules football in Western AustraliaAustralian rules football in Western Australia is the most popular sport in the state.-Early Beginnings:Organised football in the Perth/Fremantle region of Western Australia dates back to 1881. Back then though rugby union was the dominant football code...
- Fremantle Football Club drafting and trading historyFremantle Football Club drafting and trading historyFremantle Football Club's drafting and trading history is often cited as a reason for their poor on-field record, in not winning a finals game in their first 11 seasons....
- Sport in AustraliaSport in AustraliaAustralia has a long sporting history dating back to the mid 1800s. By the 1920s, a number of sports were being played by both men and women, including cricket, badminton, judo, swimming, tennis, netball, lacrosse, golf, hockey and various codes of football....
- Sport in Western AustraliaSport in Western Australia-Australian rules football:Along with cricket, Australian rules football is one of the main sports. Western Australia has two teams in the Australian Football League : the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Football Club . The "home" of Australian rules football in Perth is Subiaco Oval...