Fremantle Football Club#Beacon Award

{{See also|Australian rules football in Western Australia|East Fremantle Football Club|South Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle Football Club (1881–1899)|Fremantle Football Club (1882–1886)|North Fremantle Football Club}}

The port city of Fremantle, Western Australia has a rich footballing history, hosting the state's first organised game of Australian rules in 1881.{{cite web|url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/fremantle_(1).htm |title=History of Fremantle Football|publisher=Full Points Footy|url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074748/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/fremantle_(1).htm|archive-date=7 June 2011}} Fremantle's first teams, the Fremantle Football Club, the Union/Fremantle Football Club and East Fremantle Football Club, dominated the early years of the West Australian Football League (WAFL), winning 24 of the first 34 premierships.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/resources/history/afl-premiers-league/download.html|title=List of AFL league premiers}}{{dead link|date=September 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Since 1897, Fremantle Oval has been the main venue for Australian rules football matches in the city. Until the opening of Perth Stadium in 2018, the record attendance for an Australian rules football game in Western Australia stood at 52,781 for the 1979 WANFL Grand Final between East Fremantle and South Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

Champion footballers who forged careers playing for Fremantle-based clubs include, among other Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees, Steve Marsh, Jack Sheedy, John Todd, George Doig, William Truscott and Bernie Naylor.

File:Football match Fremantle Oval 1910.jpg|Marking contest from a Fremantle Derby between South Fremantle and East Fremantle, c. 1910

File:Fremantle_Oval_1910.jpg|A view over Fremantle Oval and the surrounding buildings, c. 1910

File:George_Doig.png|East Fremantle legend George Doig, namesake of Fremantle's Doig Medal

File:Bernie_Naylor.png|South Fremantle legend Bernie Naylor

File:Fremantle Oval Statue.jpg|Statue of John Gerovich's mark over Ray French

File:Performance Chart AFL FRE.svg]]

Despite the long history of Australian rules football in Fremantle, the expansion of the then-Victorian Football League into Western Australia, took the form of a state-wide club, with the creation of the West Coast Eagles, in 1987. Soon afterwards, there were negotiations between WAFL clubs East Fremantle and South Fremantle, regarding formation of a second WA-based VFL club, as a joint venture. Due to exclusive rights clauses in contracts between the West Coast Eagles and the VFL, a second WA franchise was not legally possible until after the 1992 season. Moreover, the model of a joint venture between two WAFL clubs was opposed by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC).{{Cite book|title = The Phoenix Rises|last = Oakley|first = Ross|publisher = Slattery Media Group|year = 2014|isbn = 978-0-9874205-9-6|location = Richmond, Victoria|pages = 246–247}}

On 14 December 1993, the AFL announced that a new team, to be based in Fremantle, would enter the league in 1995, with the provisional name "Fremantle Sharks." The licence had cost the WAFC $4 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/flashback-1993-fremantle-announced-as-the-16th-afl-team-20181213-p50m2a.html|title=Second WA team takes AFL to 16|date=15 December 1993|publisher=The Age|first=Ashley|last=Browne}} On 21 July 1994, the names "Fremantle Football Club", "Fremantle Dockers" and the club colours of purple, red, green and white were announced.

A first training session for the inaugural squad was held on 31 October 1994 at Fremantle Oval.

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 Subiaco Oval 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 losses and only 1 game outside the top eight.

After an average first half to the 2006 AFL season, Fremantle finished the year with a club-record nine straight wins to earn themselves third position at the end of the home and away season with a club-best 15 wins. 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 saw the club win its first finals game in the semi-final against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval. The club subsequently earned a trip to Sydney to play in its first ever preliminary final, where they lost by 35 points at ANZ Stadium to the Sydney Swans.

File:Fremantle players warming up prior to a game.jpg

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.{{harvp|Lovett|2010|p=123}} The club came 11th that year, and Harvey was appointed full-time coach at the end of the season. The following year saw the club slump to 14th.

In Round 15, 2009, Fremantle recorded the lowest score in its history and of the 2000s, scoring only 1.7 (13) to the Adelaide Crows' 19.16 (130). It scored just one point in the first half and the only goal scored came in the third quarter.

After finishing sixth in 2010, the club played in the finals for the first time since 2006. The team played Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval, 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/fremantle-dockers-jump-cautious-hawks/story-e6frg12c-1225914193766 |title=Fremantle Dockers dump Hawthorn to earn finals clash with Geelong|first=Braden|last=Quartermaine|date=4 September 2010|website=Perth Now}} The team's second ever win in a finals match qualified them for a semi-final to be played against the Geelong Cats at the MCG the following week. In a one-sided contest, the Dockers lost by 69 points.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-finals-2010-cats-v-dockers/story-e6frf9jf-1225917562730|title=Geelong gives Fremantle the heave-ho|first=Bruce|last=Matthews|date=10 September 2010|work=Herald Sun}}

The 2011 season saw Fremantle lose just once in the first six rounds before ending the year in 11th position after losing their final seven games. Fremantle's collapse was considered a result of a heavy injury count that began in the pre-season.{{cite web|last1=Rucci|first1=Michelangelo|last2=Clark|first2=Jay|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/mark-harvey-sacked-from-fremantle/news-story/b820892aa7cc3e84c7d7d0bbd31ee9fc|title=Mark Harvey sacked by Fremantle, Ross Lyon ready to step in|work=AdelaideNow.com.au|date=16 September 2011|access-date=20 August 2018|quote=Fremantle's collapse this season was considered a result of a heavy injury count that began in the pre-season.}}

In September 2011, Mark Harvey was sensationally sacked by the club in favour of still-contracted St Kilda coach Ross Lyon.

Fremantle qualified for the finals in 2012 after finishing in seventh position. In their elimination final against Geelong, the Dockers won their first ever finals game away from home with a 16-point victory at the MCG behind Matthew Pavlich's six goals.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2012/24/geel-v-fre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806143807/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2012/24/geel-v-fre|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2014|title=Geelong Cats vs Fremantle|work=AFL.com.au|date=8 September 2012|access-date=20 August 2018}} Fremantle subsequently lost to the Crows in Adelaide the following week, ending their finals campaign.

In 2013, Fremantle finished the home-and-away season in third position with a club-best 16 wins. In their qualifying final against the Cats in Geelong, the Dockers produced a first-round upset with a 15-point victory to advance through to a home preliminary final.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-07/fremantle-geelong-afl-finals/4942802|title=Fremantle shocks Geelong with 15-point win at Kardinia Park to seal place in preliminary final|work=ABC.net.au|date=7 September 2013|access-date=20 August 2018}} In the preliminary final, the Dockers defeated the reigning premiers, the Sydney Swans, by 25 points to advance to their maiden AFL Grand Final. In the 2013 grand final, the Dockers were defeated by Hawthorn by a margin of 15 points.

File:MCG Grand Final panorama.jpg

In 2014, the club reached the finals for the third successive year with a top-four finish and 16 wins, but despite earning a double chance, they were knocked out after losses to Sydney away and Port Adelaide at home. Nat Fyfe was awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy for winning the AFL Players' Association MVP award.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-09/fremantle27s-nathan-fyfe-wins-afl-players27-association-mvp-a/5732088|title=Fremantle's Nat Fyfe wins AFL Players' Association MVP award|date=9 September 2014|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In 2015, the club were crowned minor premiers for the first time in their history, earning their first piece of silverware with the McClelland Trophy. However, the club failed to convert this into a grand final appearance, losing to Hawthorn by 27 points in its home preliminary final. Fremantle ended their season with Nat Fyfe becoming the club's first Brownlow Medalist.{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/brownlow-medal-2015-nat-fyfe-wins-afl-highest-honour/story-e6frf3e3-1227547660292|author= Writers|website=Fox Sports|title=Brownlow Medal 2015: Nat Fyfe wins AFL highest honour|date=28 September 2015}}

Season 2016 marked Matthew Pavlich's final season in the AFL, as Fremantle missed the finals following a 10-game losing streak to start the year, finishing in 16th position with just four wins.{{cite web|last=McArdle|first=Jordan|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-2016-report-card-long-way-back-for-dockers-ng-8f3cc15aa016186ef5ca84f41320f017|title=Fremantle 2016 report card: Long way back for Dockers|work=PerthNow.com.au|date=7 September 2016|access-date=20 August 2018}}

Ross Lyon was sacked as coach on 20 August 2019 after the club failed to qualify for the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/20/afl-fremantle-head-coach-ross-lyon|title=AFL coach Ross Lyon sacked by Fremantle|website=The Guardian|author=Guardian Sport|date=20 August 2019|access-date=8 February 2020}} He was replaced by Justin Longmuir.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-30/fremantle-dockers-appoint-justin-longmuir-as-new-afl-head-coach/11552242|title=Justin Longmuir appointed by Fremantle Dockers as new head coach in AFL after Ross Lyon sacked|newspaper=ABC News|last1=Wilde|first1=Tom|date=30 September 2019|access-date=8 February 2020}}

Longmuir's first season was during the COVID-19-affected 2020 AFL season, which was shortened from 22 matches to 17.{{cite news|title=A coronavirus-disrupted AFL season unveiled some innovations that should stay but others that should go|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-26/coronavirus-forced-afl-to-make-innovations-in-2020-season/12811688|access-date=18 August 2022|work=abc.net.au|language=en}} Fremantle would lose their first four games before finding form and finishing 12th on the ladder with 7 wins and 10 losses.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers' strong second half of season brings hope for Purple Army after tough 2020|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-22/tough-start-to-2020-for-dockers-but-solid-finish-hope-for-future/12689266|access-date=18 August 2022|work=abc.net.au|language=en}}

The 2022 AFL season would prove to be a breakout year for the Dockers, who qualified for finals for the first time since the 2015 AFL season{{cite news|title=AFL Finals 2022: Ticket sale date and prices revealed for first Fremantle Dockers final in seven years|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/afl-finals-2022-ticket-sale-date-and-prices-revealed-for-first-fremantle-dockers-final-in-seven-years-c-7964935|access-date=24 August 2022|work=perthnow.com.au|language=en}} and were in contention for a top-4 finish throughout the season before finishing fifth with fifteen wins, six losses, and one draw.{{cite news|title='Incredible' Freo BACK in top four after overcoming big deficit, 'awesome' All-Australian bolter: 3-2-1|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-scores-2022-gws-giants-vs-fremantle-dockers-updates-round-23-live-ladder-stream-stats-video-result-news-blog/news-story/8114dda95ce62ef43f6c0ecbbf44f7fc|access-date=24 August 2022|work=foxsports.com.au|language=en}} Fremantle's return to finals saw them play the Western Bulldogs in an elimination final at Optus Stadium.{{cite news|title=Freo's week one finals fixture!|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1205883/freo-s-week-one-finals-fixture|access-date=4 September 2022|work=fremantlefc.com.au|language=en}} Fremantle were dominated in the early stages of the game, with the Bulldogs holding a 42–1 lead at the nine-minute mark of the second term. Fremantle would go on to kick 11 of the last 13 goals to win the game by 13 points.{{cite news|title=Fremantle comes from 41 points down against Western Bulldogs to claim incredible elimination final win|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-03/afl-finals-fremantle-vs-western-bulldogs-live-updates-blog/101383894|access-date=4 September 2022|work=abc.net.au|language=en}} Fremantle next faced Collingwood in a semi-final at the MCG in front of a crowd of over 90,000, losing the game by 20 points.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-10 |title=Pies prelim bound: AFL's most unlikely surge continues as Freo's woes laid bare |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-finals-2022-collingwood-magpies-vs-fremantle-dockers-live-scores-updates-stats-video-stream-result-news-blog/news-story/44938556cc7518d7c15477c618b332de |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}

After losing their opening 2 games of the 2023 AFL season, Fremantle recorded their first win in the 56th Western Derby, beating the Eagles by 41 points. Despite a mid-season resurgence, beating both 2022 Grand Finalists in consecutive weeks, the Dockers would fade out to finish 14th on the ladder.{{Cite news |last=Wakefield |first=Bryn |date=1 September 2023 |title=Fremantle Dockers 2023 season review: Slow start sets pace for underperforming year |work=The Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/fremantle-dockers-2023-season-review/4922e7cff31b2934c57def47 |access-date=27 November 2023}}

Fremantle had a promising start to the 2024 AFL season, winning their first three games, before two close losses in Adelaide and a shock loss in Western Derby 58 surrounded their season with uncertainty. The Dockers rebounded, losing just one of their next six games before the mid-season bye to sit inside the top eight. They were entrenched inside the top eight for much of the year and were in the top four as late as round 20, before losing their final four matches. This was catalysed by injuries to key position players, including captain Alex Pearce, leading goalkicker Josh Treacy, and starting ruckman Sean Darcy. The Dockers finished 10th with a record of 12 wins, 10 losses and one draw, just half a win behind Carlton in eighth place.

After struggling in their early start-up years, Fremantle have continued to struggle over the years, with an overall win percentage of 45.52% as of July 2024, ranked 16th out of the 21 teams to have ever played in the VFL/AFL league.[http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/allteams/overall_wl.html Team Win–loss records] Because of this unimpressive win record, they are yet to win a premiership. This fact has earned them the nickname "Flagmantle", which is an optimistic joke used by fans.{{Cite web |title='Flagmantle' at last? Here's why 2023 will be the year of the Docker |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/03/03/flagmantle-at-last-heres-why-2023-will-be-the-year-of-the-docker/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=The Roar |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Shrewd trades, draft brilliance and an in-form footy 'unicorn' reignite Freo's Flagmantle dream |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/shrewd-trades-draft-brilliance-and-an-inform-footy-unicorn-reignite-freos-flagmantle-dream/news-story/07c6d2fd8ae0a469299e71e755726b71 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=FLAGMANTLE: Dockers fans dreaming as finals hiatus ends |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/flagmantle-part-iv-fremantle-dockers-push-for-a-premiership-gathers-steam-and-give-fans-a-reason-to-believe-c-8067137 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=The West Australian |language=en}} The Dockers' halcyon years took place between 2013 and 2015, where they earned three successive top-four finishes to go with their only grand final appearance (2013) and their only minor premiership (2015).

Fremantle played its first drawn match in Round 8, 2013, against the Sydney Swans.{{cite news|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2013-05-18/sydney-v-fremantle-match-report|title=Match Report: Fremantle and Sydney draw|first=Michael |last=Rogers |date=18 May 2013}} In 2006, against St Kilda at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, they played in a controversial Round 5 match (dubbed "Sirengate") that initially ended in a draw. However, the AFL overturned the draw result the following Wednesday after the match; the controversy was due to an off-field error made by the timekeepers not sounding the siren for long enough to confirm that the umpires heard it, as well as the siren not being loud enough for the field umpires to hear over the roar of the crowd in the first place, and Fremantle were eventually declared as one-point winners with no protest from St Kilda.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/05/03/1146335809340.html?page=fullpage|title=Fairness - and Fremantle - turn out the winners in AFL's points decision |first1=Jake |last1=Niall|first2=Michael |last2=Gleeson |first3=Stephen |last3=Rielly|date=4 May 2006 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} It marked the first time a game result had later been overturned since 1900.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/04/30/1146335612707.html?page=fullpage|title=Siren signals chaos as Saints steal draw|first=Richard |last=Hinds|agency=AAP|date=1 May 2006|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

File:2006 AFL Fremantle.jpg

The club is nicknamed the "Dockers" in reference to Fremantle's history as a port city. Shortly after the club was launched in 1994, Levi Strauss & Co., which produces the Dockers brand of clothing, challenged the club's right to use the name "Fremantle Dockers", specifically on clothing.{{cite news |url= http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&docID=news940724_0190_0792 | title =Prior claim on 'Dockers'|date=1994-07-24|work= The Age |page=33}} As a result, the club and the AFL discontinued the official use of the "Dockers" nickname in 1997. However, it remained in common usage both inside and outside the club, and continued to appear in the official team song "Freo Way to Go" and as the title of the official club magazine Docker.{{cite web|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/club/fun-and-games/club-song-lyrics|title= Way to Go Lyrics}} In October 2010, the strong association that members and fans have with the "Dockers" nickname led the club to form a new arrangement with Levi Strauss & Co which allows the club to officially use the nickname "Dockers" everywhere including on clothing and other brand elements.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/fremantle-dockers-launch-new-look/story-e6frfkp9-1225932854683|title=Fremantle Dockers launch new look|date=1 October 2010|first=Ben|last=Papalia}} This name change was made in conjunction with changes to the club logo and playing strip.{{cite news | url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/8051685/| title = Smaller anchor for Dockers | last1 =Duffield|first1= Mark|last2= Lewis|first2=Ross |last3=Rickard|first3=Jayne| work =The West Australian | date =1 October 2010}}

File:2011 Onward Fremantle Dockers Kit.png

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 red and green panels, representing the traditional maritime port and starboard colours. The colours also acknowledged Fremantle's large Italian community, which historically has been associated with the city's fishing community.Jones, Ron (2017). Geographies of Australian Heritages: Loving a Sunburnt Country?. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781351157506. 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 three white chevrons, and the away jumper is white with purple chevrons.For all past guernsey designs, see [http://www.footyjumpers.com/ Mero's Footy Jumpers] website.

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 Children's 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 hosted an annual Heritage Round. Until 2006, Fremantle wore a white guernsey with three 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 held the record, prior to the opening of Optus Stadium, for the highest attendance at a football game of any code in Western Australia, with 52,781 attending at Subiaco Oval.

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.Hagdorn, Kim; [http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/freo-anchor-may-get-heave-ho/story-e6frg21l-1111117412506 Fremantle Dockers' anchor logo, song, colours under review]; PerthNow; 6 September 2008 However he later confirmed that the purple colour will be maintained as it had become synonymous with Fremantle.Clarke, Tim; [http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/freo-wont-heave-ho/2008/09/10/1220857592015.html Freo won't heave ho] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013143554/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/freo-wont-heave-ho/2008/09/10/1220857592015.html |date=13 October 2008 }}; Realfooty; 10 September 2008

File:Fremantle Oval gnangarra-1.jpg, home of the club's original training facilities]]

Fremantle Football Club had its original training and administration facilities at Fremantle Oval from 1995 until 2017. On 21 February 2017 the club moved its training and administration facilities to Cockburn ARC, a professional sports training facility and community recreation centre that was constructed in 2015–17 at a price of $109 million, located in the suburb of Cockburn Central.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/new-cockburn-home-for-fremantle-dockers-bolsters-spirits-for-2017-20170222-guikn0.html|title=New Cockburn home for Fremantle Dockers bolsters spirits for 2017|date=21 February 2017|work=The Age}}

The team's home games are played at Optus Stadium, a 61,000 seat multi-purpose stadium located in the suburb of Burswood. The club began playing home matches at the venue in 2018, having previously played home matches at Subiaco Oval from 2001 onward and before that the WACA Ground from 1995 to 2000.

The official song of Fremantle is "Freo Way to Go", a truncated version of the club's original song, "Freo Heave Ho", written by Ken Walther. "Freo Way to Go" was adopted in 2011 following a poll on the Dockers' official website, beating out three other newly composed songs, including "Freo Freo", which was written by Fremantle-based indie rock group and the Dockers' then-number one ticket holder, Eskimo Joe.{{Cite web |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/10366348/eskimo-joe-join-dockers-song-battle/ |title=Eskimo Joe join Dockers song battle |access-date=29 September 2011 |archive-date=10 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710012452/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/10366348/eskimo-joe-join-dockers-song-battle/ |url-status=dead }} The poll took place around the same time that the club's guernsey and logo were also updated.{{cite news|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/dockers-guernseys-club-song-set-for-makeover-20100930-15yl8.html|title=Dockers guernseys, club song set for makeover|date=30 September 2010|first=Joseph |last=Sapienza}}

Unlike other AFL team songs, "Freo Way to Go" is played to a contemporary rock tune. "Freo Heave Ho" also had a section based on Igor Stravinsky's arrangement of the traditional Russian folk song, "Song of the Volga Boatmen",[http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/its-not-a-bad-song-says-man-who-penned-freo-heave-ho/story-e6frg13u-1225933187029 'It's not a bad song' says man who penned Freo Heave Ho] which was dropped in 2011, leaving only the original composition of Walther. Due to its unconventional style, the song is derided by many opposition supporters and defended with equally fierce loyalty by many fans.Katz, Danny;[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/05/1083635187989.html No rhyme or reason to what you fancy]; The Age; 6 May 2004;Retrieved on 14 June 2007Burrows, Toby [http://www.api-network.com/main/index.php?apply=reviews&webpage=api_reviews&flexedit=&flex_password=&menu_label=&menuID=&menubox=&Review=5382 Review: Way to Go: Sadness, Euphoria and the Fremantle Dockers, by Matt Price]; July 2004; Retrieved on 14 June 2007 Author and Fremantle fan Tim Winton boasted: "Every other team song sounds like a 'Knees Up Mother Brown' from previous eras. We've got a backbeat".[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Xvat5SkV4 "Tim Winton in conversation with Martin Flanagan (pt 2)"] (Schwartz Media), YouTube. Time: 21:13. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

In 2021, in response to being named the club's new number one ticket holder, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker released "Go Freo", a "pump-up" track to be played at Fremantle's home games. Bolstering the Fremantle connection, the song draws inspiration from Bon Scott-era AC/DC.[https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/942093/our-new-no1-ticket-holderkevin-parker-of-tame-impala "Our new no.1 ticket holder…Kevin Parker of Tame Impala!"], Fremantle FC. Retrieved 16 June 2021.

File:Johnny "The Doc" Docker.jpg

• 1995–1999: Grinder – a cartoon-like docker man, in a similar style to Popeye, with a permanent snarl, oversized jaw and muscular arms.
• 2000–2003: The Doc – a straggly blonde-haired mascot, similar in appearance to Fremantle players Clive Waterhouse or Shaun McManus.
• 2003–present: Johnny "The Doc" Docker – a blonde haired surfer with a surfboard under one arm is the Dockers' official mascot in the Mascot Manor promotion for kids.
• 2012–present: Jenny Docker – Johnny's younger sister.
• 2022–present: Dokka the Quokka – a quokka, which is a marsupial native to Rottnest Island, off the coast of Fremantle.{{cite news |last=Kirby |first=Aaron |date=16 July 2022 |title=Fremantle unveil furry new mascot Dokka the Quokka before crunch clash with Sydney Swans |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/fremantle-dockers/fremantle-unveil-furry-new-mascot-dokka-the-quokka-before-crunch-clash-with-sydney-swans--c-7543412 |work=Perth Now |location= |publisher= |access-date=10 April 2025}}

The club is owned by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC). Since 2003, a board of directors controls the operation of the club, on behalf of the WAFC. Prior to this, a two-tier arrangement was in place, with a Board of Management between the board of directors and the commission. The initial club chief executive officer was David Hatt, who had come from a hockey background, and the inaugural club chairman was Ross Kelly, who had played for West Perth. It was a deliberate act by the commission to avoid having administrators from either East Fremantle or South Fremantle in key roles, as they wanted the club to be bigger than just representing Fremantle.{{harvp|Everett|2014|pp=22–23}}

Kelly resigned at the end of 1998, replaced by Ross McLean. Whilst he presided over some key financial decisions, including the building of the club's administrative and training centre at Fremantle Oval and the deferment of the licence fee to the AFL, it was Fremantle's lowest point onfield, culminating in a two-win season in 2001 which saw the coach Damian Drum be sacked mid-year. McLean resigned following an inadvertent breach of the salary cap.[https://web.archive.org/web/20141111152456/http://footystats.freeservers.com/Archive/D-02-Dec-03.html Docker chairman resigns]

In early 2001 Hatt accepted a government job and Cameron Schwab was appointed. After weathering the fallout from the disastrous 2001 season, Schwab and the new chairman, local West Australian retailing businessman Rick Hart, set about rebuilding the club. A former recruiting manager, Schwab focused on building up the on-field performance by recruiting high-profile players in Trent Croad, Peter Bell and Jeff Farmer, as well as coach Chris Connolly and with Hart then focused on enhancing the corporate and financial standing of the club.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/25/1046064036888.html|title=Freo's $7m debt not an anchor: CEO|first1=John |last1=McGrath |first2=Mark |last2=Duffield|date=26 February 2003}} The club membership grew every year from 2002 until 2008{{cite web|url=http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Membership.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111151816/http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/Membership.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-11-11|title=Club Memberships}} and the final licence payment was made to the AFL in 2005.

Schwab chose to return to Melbourne in 2008 and was replaced as CEO by Steve Rosich, who had previously worked for the West Coast Eagles. A year later Hart resigned as president and Steve Harris, who runs The Brand Agency and had produced advertising for Fremantle since 2002, took over at the end of 2009. Harris had been on the board since November 2008, the first club chairman or president to have previously served on the board.{{harvp|Everett|2014|p=198}} The club has developed into one of the wealthiest clubs in the league and their surprise recruitment of Ross Lyon to replace Mark Harvey as coach at the end of the 2011 is seen as an example of their ruthless drive for sustained success.{{cite news|url=http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au/news/category/financial-and-governance/the-bold-boardroom-strategies-that-have-powered-fremantle-dockers-afl-resurgence/|title=The bold boardroom strategies that have powered Fremantle Dockers' AFL resurgence|first=Abid|last= Imam|date=17 September 2012}} In 2014, Harris resigned as president and was replaced by the then vice president, Perth property developer Dale Alcock.{{cite news |title=Dale Alcock named as new Fremantle Dockers president |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/dale-alcock-named-as-new-fremantle-dockers-president-ng-ya-276045 |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=The West Australian |date=14 August 2016|first=Mark|last=Duffield |language=en}}

{{Main|Western Derby}}

File:Western Derby crop.jpg

Fremantle's biggest rivalry is with the other Western Australian team, the West Coast Eagles, who they play twice each year in the home and away season, in the fiercely contested "Western Derby" matches (Pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɝː|b|i}} in Western Australia). West Coast were victorious in the first nine games, before Fremantle won in round 16, 1999, after which has prompted a fairly even Derby result with Fremantle at 25 and West Coast at 24 Derby wins. 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37675241 |title=NEXT SATURDAY'S GAMES. |newspaper=Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885–1954) |location=Perth, WA |date=29 August 1929 |access-date=7 June 2011 |page=23 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The 1979 WANFL Grand Final holds the football attendance record for the now-closed Subiaco Oval of 52,781.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/fixture/aflvenues/westernaustralia/tabid/13585/default.aspx|title= Patersons Stadium|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121034237/http://www.afl.com.au/fixture/aflvenues/westernaustralia/tabid/13585/default.aspx|archive-date=21 January 2012}}

The Dockers and the St Kilda Football Club have seen a number of controversial events between them, most notably the AFL siren controversy at York Park in 2006. The match was sent 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 Commission and it was decided during the week that as the siren had gone Fremantle were judged to be the winners, disallowing Baker's point.{{cite news|title=The day the winners didn't win: Looking back at the Fremantle vs St Kilda 'Sirengate' game|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-sirengate-feature-st-kilda-vs-fremantle-2006-siren-wasnt-heard-lookback-draw-overturned-on-appeal/news-story/39d2e2a4999b17de13ea770469fe9257|access-date=20 June 2022|language=en}}

During the 2011 off-season, Fremantle sacked coach Mark Harvey and replaced him with then-St Kilda coach Ross Lyon in 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 widespread criticism 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. The two clubs contested a highly anticipated Friday night match in Round 4 of the 2012 AFL season at Etihad Stadium, with Fremantle winning by 13 points and Lyon being booed throughout the match.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-20/dockers-down-saints-in-lyon27s-return/3964006|title=Dockers down Saints in Lyon's return|newspaper=ABC News|publisher=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|date=20 April 2012|access-date=7 February 2017}} Lyon became Fremantle's longest serving and most successful coach before being sacked in 2019. He later returned for a second coaching stint at St Kilda in 2023, and his first game back was against Fremantle.

:See also Fremantle Football Club drafting and trading history for the complete list of Fremantle's draft selections, delistings and trades

{{Fremantle Football Club current squad}}

File:Matthew-Pavlich-August-2016.jpg captained the club from 2007 to 2015.]]

For most of Fremantle's history, players have played for various West Australian Football League (WAFL) teams when not selected to play for the Fremantle AFL team. Players recruited from the WAFL have remained with their original club, and players recruited from interstate have been allocated to teams via a draft system. Since the 2014 season, the Peel Thunder Football Club has served as the host club for the Fremantle Dockers, an arrangement which will see Fremantle's reserves players playing in the WAFL for Peel Thunder Football Club. An attempt in 2013 to field a standalone Fremantle reserves side in the WAFL was rejected by the other WAFL clubs.{{cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast-and-fremantle-will-enter-wafl-alignments-from-2013/story-e6frg1xu-1226507394291|first=Braden|last=Quartermaine|title=West Coast and Fremantle will enter WAFL alignments from 2013|newspaper =Perthnow|date=31 October 2012|access-date=9 November 2012}} A similar host club system was used in 1999 when South Fremantle was the aligned club but was cancelled after a single season.

Despite West Coast being granted a reserves team in the competition in 2020, Fremantle's partnership with Peel has continued successfully, with the two clubs committing to retain the relationship until 2029.{{cite web|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1723304/fremantle-and-peel-strengthen-partnership|title=Fremantle and Peel strengthen partnership|work=fremantlefc.com.au|date=1 March 2025}}

File:Fremantle AFLW team.jpg

In May 2016, the club launched a bid to enter a team in the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers to utilise Curtin partnership to women's team bid|url=http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au/news/fremantle-dockers-to-utilise-curtin-partnership-for-womens-team-bid/|access-date=3 December 2016|work=Sports Business Insider|date=20 May 2016}} As part of the bid, the team would guarantee all players education and job opportunities with the club and the partnering Curtin University.

Fremantle beat out a bid from rivals {{AFL WC}} when they were granted a license on 15 June 2016.{{cite news|title=Fremantle win licence for inaugural WA women's team|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2016-06-15/fremantle-win-licence-for-inaugural-wa-womens-team|access-date=3 December 2016|work=Fremantle FC|publisher=Bigpond|date=15 June 2016}}

Kiara Bowers and Kara Antonio were the club's first signings, unveiled along with the league's other 14 marquee players on 27 July 2016.{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Bruce|title=Sixteen of the best: women's marquees named|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-27/sixteen-of-the-best-womens-league-marquee-players-named|access-date=25 October 2016|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|date=27 July 2016}} A further 24 senior players and two rookie players were added to the club's inaugural list in the league's drafting and signing period.

Former South Fremantle assistant coach, Michelle Cowan was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in July 2016.{{cite news|last1=Edwards|first1=Jon|title=Cowan confirmed as coach of Fremantle's national women's league team|url=http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2016-07-11/story|access-date=3 December 2016|work=Fremantle FC|publisher=Bigpond|date=11 July 2016}}

The club's initial bid outlined plans for a game each at Domain Stadium and at Curtin University's Bentley campus as well as up to two remaining matches held at the club training base in the city of Cockburn. The club eventually played two home games at Fremantle Oval, one at Domain Stadium and one in Mandurah.[https://web.archive.org/web/20171024000450/http://www.afl.com.au/womens/matches/2017-aflw-results afl.com.au] In 2018, the Dockers hosted the first football game at Perth Stadium but played the remainder of their home games at Fremantle Oval.

The Dockers struggled in their inaugural season, only winning one of seven games and finishing seventh out of eight teams on the ladder. They fared slightly better in 2018, winning three matches, but again finished seventh on the ladder.{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-17/aflw-match-report-dockers-dodge-spoon|title=AFLW match report: Dockers dodge spoon|publisher=Australian Football League|work=AAP|first=Chris|last=Pike|date=17 March 2018|access-date=17 March 2018}}

In 2019, Fremantle had their most successful season, losing only one game during the home-and-away matches (to eventual premiers Adelaide) and making the finals for the first time. The team, now coached by Trent Cooper and with Kiara Bowers making her long-awaited debut after two injury-affected years, started the year with a high-scoring victory over Melbourne in the opening round and then kicked their highest ever score, 10.7 (67), in round 2 against Brisbane. Despite having won two more games than Carlton, the controversial conference system saw Carlton host the knock out preliminary final{{cite news |title=Blues coach shrugs off AFLW criticism |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/blues-coach-shrugs-off-aflw-criticism |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=SBS News |language=en}} and inflict Fremantle's second defeat of the year. In the post-season awards, Bowers{{cite news |last1=Cherny |first1=Daniel |title=Another gong for Erin Phillips |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/another-gong-for-erin-phillips-20190401-p519ig.html |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=The Age |date=1 April 2019 |language=en}} and Dana Hooker{{cite news |title=Phillips crowned AFLW's best for a second time |url=https://womens.afl/news/17701/phillips-crowned-aflw-s-best-for-a-second-time |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=AFLW |language=en}} came second behind Erin Phillips in the AFLW MVP award and AFL Women's best and fairest award, respectively. Bowers, Hooker and Gemma Houghton were all named in the AFL Women's All-Australian team.{{cite news |last1=Cherny |first1=Daniel |title=Phillips named AFLW's best but future up in the air |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-all-australian-skipper-is-of-course-erin-phillips-20190402-p51a46.html |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=The Age |date=2 April 2019 |language=en}} Ashley Sharp was awarded goal of the year for a long-run, multiple-bounce goal.{{cite web |title=Freo stars shine at W Awards |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2019-04-02/freo-stars-shine-at-w-awards |website=fremantlefc.com.au |date=2 April 2019 |access-date=2 April 2019}}

{{Fremantle AFL Women's current squad}}

Source: [https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/afl-womens/aflw-history AFLW History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402133155/https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/afl-womens/aflw-history |date=2 April 2019 }}

The Doig Medal 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, Tendai Mzungu and Lee Spurr have won in recent years, despite being significantly older than most first year players.

• Premierships: Nil
• Grand Final appearances: 1 (2013)
• Minor Premierships: 1 (2015)
• Wooden spoons: 1 (2001)
• Finals series reached: Eight (2003, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022)
• Biggest winning margin: 113 points - 24.13 (157) vs. Greater Western Sydney 6.8 (44), Patersons Stadium, 11 August 2013
• Biggest losing margin: 133 points - 3.7 (25) vs. Geelong 24.14 (158), GMHBA Stadium, 18 August 2018
• Longest winning streak: 9 games (Round 14, 2006 – Round 22, 2006) and (Round 1, 2015 - Round 9, 2015)
• Longest losing streak: 18 games (Round 22, 2000 – Round 17, 2001)
• Highest score: 28.12 (180) vs. Collingwood 10.8 (68), Subiaco Oval, 8 May 2005
• Lowest score: 1.7 (13) vs. Adelaide 19.16 (130), AAMI Stadium, 11 July 2009

File:Fremantle dockers.JPG at Subiaco Oval celebrating the 200th game of Hall of Fame inductee Peter Bell]]

File:Nat Fyfe Fremantle Round 6 2019 (cropped).jpg

• Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees: Peter Bell 2015, Matthew Pavlich 2022
• Brownlow Medallists: Nat Fyfe 2015, 2019
• AFL Women's best and fairest winner: Kiara Bowers 2021
• Norm Smith Medallists: None
• Coleman Medallists: None
• AFL Rising Star award: Paul Hasleby 2000; Rhys Palmer 2008; Caleb Serong 2020
• All Australians: Matthew Pavlich 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Peter Bell 2003; Paul Hasleby 2003; Aaron Sandilands 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014; Luke McPharlin 2012; Michael Johnson 2013; Nat Fyfe 2014, 2015, 2019 (c); Hayden Ballantyne 2014; David Mundy 2015; Michael Walters 2019; Luke Ryan 2020, 2024; Andrew Brayshaw 2022; Caleb Serong 2023, 2024
• AFLW All-Australians: Kara Antonio 2017; Dana Hooker 2018, 2019; Ebony Antonio 2018; Gemma Houghton 2019, 2020; Kiara Bowers 2019, 2020, 2021; Janelle Cuthbertson 2021; Hayley Miller 2022 (S6) (vc)
• 22under22: Nat Fyfe 2013; Michael Walters 2013; Lachie Neale 2015; Sean Darcy 2018, 2020; Ed Langdon 2018; Adam Cerra 2020, 2021; Andrew Brayshaw 2020, 2021 (vc), 2022 (c); Hayden Young 2022, 2023; Jordan Clark 2022; Caleb Serong 2022, 2023; Luke Jackson 2023, 2024; Jye Amiss 2023, 2024; Josh Treacy 2024; Josh Draper 2024
• 22under22 (AFLW): Roxanne Roux 2020; Sabreena Duffy 2020, 2021; Emma O'Driscoll 2021, 2022 (S6), 2022 (S7)
• International rules representatives: Clive Waterhouse 1999; Matthew Pavlich 2002, 2003; Matthew Carr 2003; Paul Hasleby 2003; Robbie Haddrill 2004; Heath Black 2005; Ryan Crowley 2006; David Mundy 2006, 2015; Brett Peake 2006; Roger Hayden 2008; Garrick Ibbotson 2010; Paul Duffield 2010;{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=104178 |title=Goodes named Australian captain |publisher=AFL.com.au|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018050029/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/104178/default.aspx|archive-date=18 October 2010}} Hayden Ballantyne 2015; Nat Fyfe 2017
• Leigh Matthews Trophy (AFLPA Most Valuable Player) winners: Nat Fyfe 2014, 2015; Andrew Brayshaw 2022
• AFLPA Best First Year Player Award winners: Paul Hasleby 2000; Rhys Palmer 2008; Michael Barlow 2010; Caleb Serong 2020
• AFLCA Best Young Player Award winners: Stephen Hill 2010; Nat Fyfe 2011; Caleb Serong 2021
• Most games: David Mundy, 376 games[http://www.afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/fremantle.html Fremantle - All Time Player List]
• Most consecutive games: Matthew Pavlich, 160 games (Rd 15 2001 – Rd 16 2008)[http://www.afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/misc_players.html#03 Consecutive games]
• Most goals: Matthew Pavlich, 700 goals (as of 2020 season)
• Most goals in a season: 72 Matthew Pavlich, 2007[http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/fremantle/leadinggk.html Fremantle Goalkicking Records]
• Most goals in a game: 10 Tony Modra vs Melbourne, Rd 10 1999, MCG{{cite web|url=http://www.afltables.com/afl/teams/fremantle/leadinggk.html#01 |title=AFL Tables - Fremantle Goalkicking Records |publisher=afltables.com |access-date=2013-05-04}}
• Mark of the Year winners: Tony Modra 2000; Luke McPharlin 2005
• Goal of the Year winners: Winston Abraham 1996; Hayden Ballantyne 2011; Caleb Serong 2021
• Goal of the Year (AFLW) winners: Ashley Sharp 2019

• Record attendance (home and away game): 61,157, Round 18, 15 July 2023 at MCG v Collingwood
• Record attendance (AFLW home and away game): 41,975, Round 2, 10 February 2018 at Perth Stadium v Collingwood
• Record attendance (home game): 58,982, First Elimination Final, 03 September 2022 at Perth Stadium v Western Bulldogs
• Record attendance (finals match): 100,007, Grand Final, Sept 28, 2013 at MCG v Hawthorn.

The Fremantle Football Hall of Legends 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.

In 2019, The West Australian named Fremantle's greatest team of the past twenty five years as part of the club's twenty fifth anniversary celebrations, as voted by Fans and club officials.:{{cite web|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2019-06-28/fremantles-greatest-team-presenting-the-25-since-95|title = Fremantle's greatest team – presenting the 25 since 95!| date=28 June 2019 }}

File:Tame Impala Surly Brewing in Minneapolis 2019 (48419382936) (cropped).jpg frontman Kevin Parker, the club's current number-one ticket holder]]

It is traditional for each AFL club to recognise a prominent supporter as the number-one ticket holder. Fremantle originally chose to award this to Carmen Lawrence, the sitting member for the federal seat of Fremantle. This was roundly criticised as the member may or may not be a supporter of the club and unnecessarily linked politics with sport.Gervase A. Haimes (August 2006); [https://web.archive.org/web/20110301171553/http://wallaby.vu.edu.au/adt-VVUT/uploads/approved/adt-VVUT20060919.123019/public/03chapters5-7.pdf Culture and Identity at FFC] in PhD thesis "Organizational Culture and Identity: A Case Study from the Australian Football League", Victoria University; archived from the [http://wallaby.vu.edu.au/adt-VVUT/uploads/approved/adt-VVUT20060919.123019/public/03chapters5-7.pdf original] on 1 March 2011 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 Fremantle's number-one ticket holder, replacing golfer Nick O'Hern.{{cite news|url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7102951/eskimo-joe-are-dockers-new-no-1-ticketholders/|title = Eskimo Joe No. 1 at Freo|work = The West Australian|publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited|date = 24 April 2010|access-date = 25 April 2010}} The band's drummer and guitarist, Joel Quartermain, hinted that they might write a new theme song for the club, saying that {{Blockquote|We'll give it a crack. We're back here this winter writing our new record so, while we're at it, we may as well knock off a new theme song.|Joel Quartemain}}In 2011, Eskimo Joe submitted their proposed song for a fan vote, although it ultimately lost to "Freo Way To Go", a variant of the club's original song.

Other high-profile fans include former Premiers of Western Australia, Mark McGowan{{cite web|title=WA Premier shows his purple side|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/289349/wa-premier-shows-his-purple-side-|access-date=2021-02-01|website=www.fremantlefc.com.au|date=22 October 2017 }} and Alan Carpenter,{{cite web|title = Alan Carpenter – Premier-in-waiting|publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date = 23 January 2006|url = http://www.abc.net.au/wa/stories/s1553493.htm|access-date = 24 August 2010}} former Federal Minister of Defence, Stephen Smith,[http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7009/newsid/125396/default.aspx Defence Minister kicks a goal for Freo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404141205/http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7009/newsid/125396/default.aspx |date=4 April 2012 }} Tim Minchin,{{cite web |title=For the Love of Freo with Tim Minchin |url=https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=781307 |website=whooshkaa.com |access-date=1 February 2021}} members of psychedelic rock band Tame Impala,{{cite web |title=International stars, local legends |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/725816/international-stars-local-legends |website=www.fremantlefc.com.au |date=18 June 2013 |access-date=1 February 2021}} author Tim Winton,{{cite web|title=Western voices|url=http://www.theblurb.com.au/Issue49/Winton.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312054441/http://www.theblurb.com.au/Issue49/Winton.htm|archive-date=12 March 2009|access-date=22 March 2009|publisher=theblurb.com.au}} American tennis player John Isner{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Ross|date=4 January 2011|title=Big John reveals he's a Dockers fan|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/8594668/big-john-reveals-hes-a-dockers-fan/|access-date=12 January 2015|work=The West Australia}} and journalists and television presenters Dixie Marshall, Simon Reeve,{{cite web|url = http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/sunrise/9615/simon-reeve-bloga-long-suffering-dockers-supporter/|title = Simon Reeve blog – A long-suffering Dockers supporter|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829182417/http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/sunrise/9615/simon-reeve-bloga-long-suffering-dockers-supporter/|archive-date = 29 August 2008}} golfer Min Woo Lee,{{Cite web |title=Min Woo Lee |url=https://www.pgachampionship.com/player/min-woo-lee |website=pgachampionship.com}} and Matt Price, who wrote a book on Fremantle, Way to Go.

File:Dockerssupporters.jpg

Despite a relative lack of on-field success, Fremantle has recorded membership figures above average for the league.

The club in 2004 had the fastest-growing membership in the AFL competition, at more than 27% from the previous year, with home crowds growing at a similar rate.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The club's recent membership slogans have emphasised the passion of Fremantle fans for their team.{{how|date=August 2022}}{{Which|date=June 2023}}

Fremantle achieved a membership of over 60,000 in 2023, for the first time in the club's history.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=60,000 members and growing! |url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1353183/60-000-members-and-growing- |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=fremantlefc.com.au |language=en}}

From 2003 until 2021, the Fremantle Football Club had the current or past Governor of Western Australia as its patron.

• 2003–2005: John Sanderson
• 2006–2021: Ken Michael
• 2021–: Richard Walley{{cite web|title=A new honour for Dr Richard Walley|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/878049/a-new-honour-for-dr-richard-walley|access-date=2021-05-22|website=fremantlefc.com.au|date=11 March 2021 |language=en}}

Vice-patrons

• David Malcolm – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia (retired)
• Syd Corser
• Con Regan and Beryl Regan
• Steve Marsh
• Jack Sheedy

{{Portal|Sports|Australia}}

• List of Fremantle players (alphabetical)
• List of Fremantle Dockers league players (ordered by debut)
• Australian rules football in Western Australia
• Fremantle Football Club drafting and trading history
• Sport in Australia
• Sport in Western Australia

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |editor-last=Lovett |editor-first = Michael |title = AFL Record Season Guide | publisher=Geoff Slattery Media Group |year=2010 |isbn = 978-0-9806274-5-9 }}
• {{cite web |title = Optus Stadium Crowds (Perth Stadium) |website = Austadiums | url = https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=399 |ref = {{sfnref|Austadiums}} |access-date=2018-09-15 }}
• {{cite book |first=Les |last=Everett |title = Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ORZTnwEACAAJ |year=2014 |publisher=Slattery Media Group |isbn = 978-0-9875263-4-2 }}
• {{cite book |first=Matt |last=Price |author-link = Matt Price |title = Way to Go: Sadness, Euphoria and the Fremantle Dockers |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=B0BnPQAACAAJ |year=2003 |publisher = Fremantle Arts Centre Press |isbn = 978-1-920731-96-0 }}

{{Refend}}

{{Commons category| Fremantle Football Club}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.flashscore.com.au/team/fremantle-dockers/MqbGx3Rj/results/ Fremantle Dockers results] - Latest scores for Fremantle Football Club

{{Fremantle Football Club|state=collapsed}}

{{Navboxes

|titlestyle=background:#2A1A54;color:#ffffff;border:1px solid;

|list=

{{VFL/AFL minor premiers}}

{{Australian Football League}}

{{AFL Women's}}

{{Aussie Rules in Western Australia}}

{{Perth Sports Teams}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Australian Football League clubs

Category:Sport in Fremantle

Category:Australian rules football clubs established in 1994

Category:Australian rules football clubs in Western Australia

Category:1994 establishments in Australia

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Perth, Western Australia

Category:AFL Women's clubs