Thousands of Fremantle Dockers supporters packed the club's Cockburn headquarters on Friday for the team's final training session in Western Australia before they fly to Melbourne ahead of Saturday's AFL grand final — the club's first appearance in the season decider in 13 years. The demand was so great that the club ticketed the open session, which drew past players, club officials and even a senior state government minister to the stands.
A city says farewell — and good luck
The atmosphere at Cockburn was described by fans as electric, with supporters young and old lining up to catch a glimpse of their heroes before the team departed for the east coast. Entry was priced at around five dollars, making it accessible for most fans — a detail that lifelong supporter Imogen Somerville said made the event impossible to miss.
"It was really cool to be able to get down here," she said. "It was like five bucks to get in, which was awesome, so couldn't miss out on that."
After the on-field session, players mingled with the crowd, signing jerseys, posters and autographs and posing for photographs. Among those watching from the stands were club chief executive Simon Garlick and Western Australia's Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
For some supporters, the occasion carried a meaning far deeper than football. Long-term fan Katie brought her son Finlay, who was just six weeks old when Fremantle last played in a grand final in 2013. Two years after that, Finlay was diagnosed with cancer, and relapsed the following year.
"It's 10 years now since his relapse," Katie said. "So it's his year and it's the Dockers' year, and all he wants is the Dockers to win on grand final day — that's his celebration."
Players and past greats share the excitement
Ruckman Luke Jackson was among the most prominent voices from the playing group, expressing pure enthusiasm about what lies ahead at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the Dockers will face the Brisbane Lions.
"Just pure excitement. Can't wait to get over there and can't wait to play on Saturday in front of all these fans. It will be good fun," Jackson said.
Jackson knows what premiership success feels like — he was part of the Melbourne Demons' 2021 flag, won in Perth during his second AFL season. Now he is hungry to taste it again, this time in front of a packed MCG.
Defender Jordan Clark also spoke warmly of the turnout, expressing gratitude to the fans who made the effort to attend on a Friday afternoon.
Lee Spurr, who played for Fremantle in the 2013 grand final, was visibly moved watching the current squad go through their paces. "I was pretty nervous watching the prelim, but now that they're there, I feel like I'm almost playing. My phone's been blowing up," he said.
Having lived through a grand final week himself, Spurr offered measured advice to this generation of Dockers. "My advice would be don't get caught up in doing too much," he said, urging players to lock in on their preparation and resist the noise of the biggest week in the football calendar. Experienced voices have also been sounding similar warnings about the importance of individual players rediscovering their best form before Saturday's decider.
MCG grand final weather: dress for winter, not spring
While the mood in Fremantle is euphoric, those making the trip to Melbourne for the grand final itself face a far less welcoming forecast. Meteorologists warn that grand final day on Saturday is shaping up as one of the more miserable weather days the MCG has seen for the season decider in recent years.
Melbourne is enjoying warm conditions to close out the week, with both Thursday and Friday expected to reach 26 degrees Celsius and sunshine on Thursday giving way to building cloud on Friday. However, a cold front and trough are set to arrive late Friday afternoon, bringing showers and a possible storm.
By Saturday, the picture changes dramatically. Temperatures are forecast to reach just 17 degrees, with the mercury sitting around 13 to 14 degrees for much of the afternoon — precisely when the grand final will be played. A cold southerly wind, persistent showers tending to steady rain at times, and up to 10 millimetres of rainfall through the day will make for a raw experience at the ground.
The moisture feeding into Melbourne is understood to have originated all the way from Western Australia — an ironic meteorological footnote given that the Dockers are making the same journey. The contrast with recent high-profile MCG events could not be starker; a recent NFL showcase at the same ground enjoyed sunny, still conditions.
The advice for anyone heading to the MCG is clear: dress for winter rather than spring. Layers and a waterproof jacket are essential, and supporters are cautioned not to be lulled into complacency by Friday's warmth. Melbourne's weather is known for its speed of change, and this weekend is a prime example.
Showers are expected to ease on Sunday morning before conditions clear, with Monday and Tuesday forecast to be fine — welcome news for those on school holidays.
What's at stake on Saturday
Fremantle last contested an AFL grand final in 2013, a gap of 13 years that has made this week all the more emotionally charged for players, staff and a fanbase that has waited a long time for another shot at the flag. The Dockers defeated Geelong in the semi-finals before overcoming Fremantle rival clubs in subsequent rounds to reach the decider, where they will meet the Brisbane Lions at the MCG with a 2:30pm start on Saturday, 26 September.
Whatever the weather brings, tens of thousands of purple-clad supporters are expected to make the journey across the Nullarbor — and thousands more watched them off at Cockburn with hope, noise, and no small amount of emotion.
