Fremantle holding fire on celebrating Dockers success
The Dockers rose to the top four — and a double chance in finals — after holding out against Port Adelaide last weekend.
The city council recently asked staff to formalise celebrating the Dockers' participation in the AFL and AFLW finals series and grand final — as well as other local sport successes — as part of its draft economic strategy 2025-2030.
But the competition for September finals action is so tight that the Dockers could yet finish outside of the top eight if they don't maintain winning form and the port city's local government is not yet ready to commit to planning a party.
Past celebrations of the AFL Dockers making the finals included painting the median of the cappuccino strip purple, live-streaming the game on a big screen outdoors and painting the Fremantle Football Club's logo on the grass slope of the Walyalup Civic Centre. Crowds gather at The Federal Hotel in Fremantle to watch the AFL semi final match between the Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge mused in a Facebook post this week about the launch of the Dockers' AFLW season about a double premiership.
She was less confident at the time of the council's party-planning decision last month, saying she was now 'petrified' the Dockers would lose the rest of their games, 'as they did the last time we bought any purple paint'.
'But I shall trust that that is superstition, not logic, and that they're doing very, very well, so fingers crossed,' she said.
The Dockers' six-point win over Port Adelaide was their fifth victory this season where they've had to fight back from a three-quarter time deficit to claim the four premiership points.
It is the most in a single season since cross-town rivals West Coast accomplished the same feat in 2006 on their way to a third premiership in club history. Patrick Voss of the Dockers with fans after the win during the 2025 AFL Round 22 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on August 9, 2025. Credit: Sarah Reed / AFL Photos via Getty Images
Whether the Dockers make the finals could come down to the last week of the regular season.
'The race for top eight is as tight as it's ever been,' The Nightly sport opinion writer Sophie Gannon said.
'Friday night's game against Brisbane is as big of a game that this club can remember.
'A win would see Freo in contention for a top four place, but a loss will leave them in a position where they rely on winning against Bulldogs at Marvel to ensure they even make the top eight.
'Although having won 11 out of the past 12 games, Freo must be careful as they're making a habit of playing three average quarters and then making a strong comeback in the fourth, doing this five out of the past six weeks.
'They'll need to play all four quarters to contend against the best in the league.'
Fremantle's finals hopes last year died in a defeat to Port Adelaide in the last game of the season after Carlton's dramatic loss to St Kilda had left the door open for them to make the top eight.
Another opportunity for partying lies with Fremantle's AFLW side, who are expected to be genuine premiership contenders this year.
The Dockers kick off their season against Port Adelaide on Sunday, August 17. The returns of Ange Stannett — who missed her entire first year as captain with an anterior cruciate ligament injury — and Kiara Bowers after pregnancy have been a massive boost to Fremantle a year after they returned to the finals.
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