As crazy as it sounds, Fremantle’s history of failure could end up playing an important role in driving the AFL team to long-awaited success.
Expansion clubs aside, Fremantle are the only team in the competition yet to win a premiership.
It took the Dockers nine years to reach their first final and 12 years to win a finals match.
Veterans Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin have enjoyed glittering careers. But they’ve experienced very little team success.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a player like star midfielder Nat Fyfe who, in just his fourth year at the elite level, has already played in three finals series.
If everything goes to plan over the next few weeks, he could be a premiership player at the tender age of 22.
Fremantle are in the box seat to reach this year’s grand final after securing a home preliminary final against Carlton or Sydney.
The Dockers’ young guns have become somewhat accustomed to playing finals football over the past four years.
But Fyfe said a chat with McPharlin, who has played just seven finals matches in his 223-game career, showed him how finals should be cherished, not taken for granted.
“He’s been through some really tough days at the club,” Fyfe said on Thursday.
“I think everyone’s got motivations for different reasons.
“But for those guys and our members and supporters who haven’t had the success over the club’s existence, there is extra motivation for them.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in three of four finals series. I definitely don’t take it for granted.
“But I’m really excited at the opportunity that we’ve given ourselves.”
Fremantle have lost just one of their past 17 games in Perth.
Their one blip was in round four this year, when an emotion-driven Essendon snuck over the line by four points.
But after Fremantle and Port Adelaide posted shock finals wins on the road last weekend, Fyfe said home ground advantage wouldn’t guarantee anything in next week’s preliminary final in Perth.
“We love playing in front of our members and supporters. They’re fantastic and we’ll really enjoy that next week,” Fyfe said.
“But having a home ground advantage – I think that’s just a myth.”
