“It’s grand final week baby.”
With that, thousands of die-hard Dockers fans descended on Cockburn ARC to watch their long-suffering team’s last WA open training session ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster AFL grand final.
More than 3000 of the Purple Army flocked to the Fremantle Dockers’ training ground for a ticketed event — which sold out in minutes — to catch a glimpse of Wednesday morning’s practice, screaming and cheering for their favourite players.
And for the Freo faithful that didn’t manage to snag a ticket, dozens watched from their cars at the top of the oval, peering over the stands to catch a glimpse of the action.
Squealing fans were also treated to autographs and selfies after the training session, before the team was whisked off the oval into the clubrooms.
Michael Volmink admitted he called in sick to watch the training session, and said he was “over the moon” to see his team in the flesh.
The 25-year-old said he immigrated from South Africa in 2012 and had been a diehard Dockers fan ever since.
“My first friend I made told me that I’m a Dockers fan, I didn’t even know what a Docker was, but I’m very grateful to him because 14 years later, I’m still here,” he said.
Mr Volmink said he felt more confident now than he did in the lead up to the 2013 grand final.
“I have such belief in the boys, I’ve seen us come back from big margins and they’ve been resilient all year,” he said.
“We’ve been the most consistent team all year, and I think that’s going to show on Saturday.”
One man came dressed as an anonymous unicorn — an ode to ruckman Luke Jackson, dubbed “the unicorn.”
“I came down today to see the unicorn, the real unicorn, there’s nothing he can’t do,” he said.
“I’m very confident, we’ve got a unicorn who can do anything.”
Monique Nobbs and her 10-year-old son, Zac, donned a handmade sign for midfielder Andrew Brayshaw with the words, “Please can I have your boots Brayshaw? My idol.”
“We thought that this might attract him and give us his boots, even if they might be smelly, we don’t care,” Ms Nobbs said.
“He’s such an amazing player and he’s my son’s idol, we just love Brayshaw.
“It’s our first time experiencing it all so it’s really good to watch the drills and the skills that they do, we’re just excited to get lots of signatures and high fives.”
Zac said he was pleased to have scored autographs from players Isaiah Dudley and Josh Tracey, but said Brayshaw was his favourite player.
“I just love that he’s a midfielder, and in my footy, I’m a midfielder too . . . he just doesn’t run out of steam,” he said.
Mother and daughter duo Karina Vinci and Sandy Comley have been Freo fanatics since the club’s creation and said they would be wearing all their lucky charms — including lucky underwear — this Saturday.
“I’m just real excited, you just can’t contain yourself, can you? I can’t focus, I can’t do nothing,” Ms Vinci said.
“I can’t think of anything that means more to me.”
Ms Vinci admitted the Brisbane Lions had far more grand final experience, but said she would be thrilled regardless of the final score.
“The way I see it is, we’re going up against a team that’s very experienced . . . they’ve been there the last three years or so and we’re taking a bunch of young kids,” she said.
“If we do lose . . . we’re going to be up there in the final, I don’t care either way, I’m just happy they got there.”
Longtime fan Liam Feist said he was flying to Melbourne with his family on Friday to watch the game; a trip he described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
“I’m really excited, a little bit nervous . . . I’m looking forward to the week ahead, I’ve been a longtime supporter,” he said.
“I’ve been a fan since their inception in ‘94. I was 14-years-old at the time, and now having my kids here with me today, and being able to watch these boys train, I’m really grateful for the opportunity.
“I’d be really pleased if they were to get over the line (and win), obviously the job is still not done yet.”
Fremantle Dockers 2013 premiership star Lee Spurr watched Wednesday’s training from the sidelines and said he felt nothing but pride for his former club.
“I was pretty nervous watching the prelim, but now that they’re there, I feel like I’m almost playing,” he said.
“They’ve got to remember they’re the best team all year, they’re fantastic, they’re the team to beat . . . I don’t think there’s anyone in the AFL that can match them.
“Brisbane are fantastic, so I have full respect to them, they’ve got the experience which counts for a lot, but I think if the Dockers can focus and really genuinely believe that they are the best side of the pump this year . . . they will beat anyone at their best.”
His advice to the boys: Turn your phone off and get some sleep.
“This week is about doing the process, doing the right preparation and . . . preparing for the grand final,” he said.
“The biggest thing is the emotional energy from the day because there are so many things coming at you . . . it’s not this magical day where everyone has to be a hero, you’ve got to go out and play the role.”
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