Fremantle has "no hesitation" in using its famed 'Wharfie Time' in 2027 despite the lingering effects of the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
The Dockers released 'Hells Bells' with four minutes remaining in the decider against Brisbane, which prompted the reigning champs to pile on four unanswered goals to rip away the flag.
Since that fateful day in September, calls have come for the death of 'Wharfie Time', with a question over whether it could survive such a moment in Fremantle's history.
But as chief executive Simon Garlick put it, it won't be going anywhere.
“There'll be no hesitation,” Garlick told The West Australian.
“We understand the narrative or discussion around the timing and potential impact of Wharfie Time, but we just don't subscribe to it influencing the result.
“I think that's been driven largely a lot of people who don't really understand the concept of Wharfie Time.
“We're not about to get rid of anything that we think is central to who we are as a club.”
Garlick's position comes as the club rang the Hells Bells in Sunday's AFLW match against Sydney at Cockburn Oval.
The Dockers were seven points down and a goal to Hayley Miller with less than two minutes remaining brought the margin back to just a single point, prompting the use of the AC/DC sound.
The Dockers hit Wharfie Time but Chloe Molloy had other ideas 🤫
Relive the last two minutes of #AFLWFreoSwans now. pic.twitter.com/v5r48nLSFF
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 1, 2026
It's not the first time the AFLW team has used the track this year, but it was the first time it was played since the AFL decider.
However, both ended the same, with Fremantle losing in close quarters.
The Dockers had used the activation on three occasions in 2026, helping secure wins over Hawthorn and Geelong, but they were granted its use in the Grand Final.
Garlick said shortly after the heartbreaking loss that 'Wharfie Time' is for fans' engagement and not for on-field strategies or tactics.
"(Wharfie Time's) come from fans knowing they can't control what happens on the field, but they can have a real crack at trying to influence it with noise and support," Garlick said on SEN in September.
"I find (the criticism) a bit bemusing myself, but I understand the question given we were so close and in these sorts of situations it's probably natural for people to look for a single reason for this type of loss. Whether it be an umpiring decision, a missed free kick or a key injury, bounce of the ball maybe.
"But it seems in this instance there's some discussion about the impact of Wharfie Time, but we just know it's not the case.
"I think it's probably raw at the moment. Our fans love Wharfie Time. We've just lost a Grand Final in the most heartbreaking way. We are not about to throw out things that make us who we are. We will walk through that in the fullness of time, but it is a fan activation tool. It's not a strategic performance-based element.
"It's captivated the East Coast this year; we've been running it for three years, and it's never guaranteed a win or a loss. And our fans are who really have built it into what it is; they understand that better than anyone.
"We will just work through (if we keep it) with our fans, because we will always take their lead."
