It's a two team town in the west. You have the choice (or more likely due to family heritage not given an option) to support the four-time flag winning West Coast Eagles or the perennial battlers Fremantle.
In the mid-2000s, my family was split in half by blue and gold and (at the time) purple, red, green and white, but my grandad put in the ground work early to make sure the anchor was firmly attached to my heart.
For better or for worse that's led to two decades of love and despair for myself and the Freo faithful - an adjective which cannot be disputed when it comes to this club. As my mum used to say in regards to Dockers fans, "We're proud, loyal, passionate, but stupid."
The expression "dockery" has now become part of the vernacular in Fremantle to describe the club or players' ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
But it appears a new era has begun for the west's forever little brother. With arguably its best ever list talent-wise, Fremantle appears ready to make its second proper push for a premiership in the Dockers' 32-year history.
While Fremantle as a club isn't known for its on-field success, the club has had a litany of cult heroes and stars who, although never reached the ultimate success, will never have to buy a beer or latte along High Street in Freo for the rest of their lives such is the admiration for what they gave to the club.
Some honourable mentions for the list include Lachie Neale who won multiple best-and-fairests with us before fleeing to Brisbane (bet he regrets that decision), tall and talented defender Michael Johnson, All-Australian Paul Hasleby, cult hero Shaun McManus, the original "Wiz" Jeff Farmer, and current star Andrew Brayshaw.
8Hayden Ballantyne
Hated by the league, emphatically adored by the Freo faithful. Was another key cog in the Dockers' only previous premiership push and another mature age pick out of the draft (picked up at 21). He has had so many memorable moments for better or worse at Freo - often against Geelong. There was the running goal against Jared Rivers at Subiaco Oval, getting punched by Matthew Scarlett, the after the siren miss in the derby, but throughout his love-him-or-hate-him career, he was actually a very good small forward. Earned All-Australian honours in 2014 with 49 goals and won Goal of the Year in 2011 for a three-possession running effort against the Cats at Subiaco. Finished with 254 goals in 171 games for the Dockers and helped boost his cult-hero status by sitting on the shoulders of his good mate and giant Aaron Sandilands who also retired in that game in 2019.
