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.
2Nat Fyfe
Like picking a favourite child - harder than the decision in the film Sophie's Choice - but due to his body failing him often throughout his career, Fyfe comes in at number two on this list. However, he is the most talented player to ever come to the club and his Captain America-style transition from the Fyfe that debuted against Richmond in 2010 to the Hercules-esque man that won two Brownlow medals is an incredible achievement in itself. From his first moments in his debut game, Fyfe's trademark float in from the side pack mark was there - and his accuracy in front of goal also remained the same as he kicked 1.4. Within a couple of years he became one of the best midfielders in the league and soon after that he was recognised as a type of footballer never seen before. He made his own mould and while his combative style cost him physically in his later years, he wowed a generation of Fremantle and football fans for his ability to dominate the midfield, break tackles and fly for screamers; all with his trademark swagger and long locks. His achievements don't need to be listed for people to know how good he was. Fyfe was a legend not only of the club but of the league as well.
