Fremantle Dockers set to make millions if they can pull off Brownlow and flag double
PerthNow
Fremantle is on the cusp of an unprecedented multi-million dollar financial windfall that could help set the club up for a generation.
If superstar midfielder Nat Fyfe becomes the first Docker to win a Brownlow Medal and Fremantle wins its first flag, the club would receive its biggest ever financial boost.
Fyfe, a landslide winner of the AFL Players’ Association MVP award this week, remains a short-priced favourite for the Brownlow despite missing four of the last six regular season games with injury.
Hawthorn wary of home crowd factor for Fremantle ahead of preliminary final
Herald Sun
Shutting up the raucous Fremantle crowd will go a long way to positioning the Hawks for an assault on a third straight premiership, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson believes.
Star midfielder Jordan Lewis said yesterday that he believed his team was “intimidated” by the cauldron-like atmosphere at Subiaco Oval a fortnight ago, and while Clarkson says he hasn’t addressed the issue this week, he knows his men are not just facing the Dockers in their preliminary final tomorrow night.
“It’s not just playing against the Fremantle side, it’s also playing against the crowd, he said before flying to Perth on Thursday.
Life as a Fremantle Dockers supporter in Melbourne
Herald Sun
The colour purple may well signify royalty and aristocracy — but wear it to a Melbourne AFL game and you’re rarely viewed as one of the king’s men.
In footy mad Melbourne and Geelong, despite the AFL competition having gone national many years ago, it seems local fans still view Fremantle Dockers supporters as pariahs from a distant land.
Invaders from a small, lost raiding party whose ship dropped anchor in the wrong port.
Ross Lyon rubbishes Dockers horror show
The Age
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is confident his team aren't carrying any mental scars from their horror showing against Hawthorn earlier this year.
The Dockers will be shooting for a spot in the grand final when they take on the Hawks at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
Hawthorn have won seven of their past eight matches against Fremantle, including a 72-point demolition in round 15.
Freo has to do more than stop Sam, says coach
afl.com.au
Fremantle will have to do more than just shutdown in-form midfielder Sam Mitchell if it is going to get past Hawthorn in Friday night's preliminary final, according to Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.
The Dockers have been considering recalling run-with player Ryan Crowley for the blockbuster clash at Domain Stadium after 12 months on the sidelines because of a doping suspension.
The 31-year-old becomes eligible to play today (Thursday) and has a strong record against Mitchell, but Clarkson said a star performance from his 2015 All Australian wasn't the key to his team progressing through to the Grand Final.
