Fremantle’s first finals win was 11 years in the making.
The port side came close in 2003, finishing fifth and narrowly losing to Essendon in the elimination final.
But it would be another three years before the team would finally shake the monkey off its back, in the 2006 qualifying final against Melbourne.
In front of a sellout crowd at Domain Stadium, Fremantle secured its first finals victory 14.8 (102) to 11.8 (74).
All-Australian defender Michael Johnson this week recalled the historic win.
“It was a very exciting year for the club,” Johnson said.
“In the second half of the year, we had won nine in a row leading in to the finals.
“So being part of this 2006 team, that year was an exciting time for us. Especially playing a qualifying final against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval.
“It was an exciting time for the club, for the players and its members.”
In the first week of the finals, Fremantle lost to Adelaide, while the Demons recorded a come-from-behind win over St Kilda.
That put the pair on a collision course at Domain Stadium and, despite Fremantle dominating around the ground, Melbourne found themselves within 10 points early in the final term.
The home fans had plenty of nervous moments as the quarter wore on, but Fremantle was not to be denied what was the most important victory in the club’s history to that point.
Johnson, who was 21 at the time, was influential, gathering 19 disposals and six marks.
He said he had looked up to fellow defenders Shane Parker, Antoni Grover and Roger Hayden.
“I was a young tucker. It was my third year in the system and that year I sort of cemented a spot in the backline,” he said.
“Luke McPharlin was there and we also had David Mundy – now one of our superstars in the midfield – he used to be a half backman.
“We had a good aged group of players, a lot of senior players that had been there through tough times at the club.”
With 202 games now under his belt, including seven finals matches, the tables have turned for Johnson. It is him that the young Fremantle defenders look up to.
The veteran said he hoped he could make history by also playing in the club’s first premiership.
“It’s a goal for the club,” he said.
“That’s why we play football at the highest level.
“We are sitting on top of the ladder and we have worked hard all year so we can’t go backwards now. Hopefully we can make it.”
Johnson said the players were excited to play Melbourne at Domain Stadium this Sunday.
“We went down to North Melbourne last weekend and, while parts of the game we were pretty happy with, we let ourselves down in the last quarter,” he said.
“We have been through the game and looked at things to improve on and we are excited to get back out there.
“We just want to get out there and play a really good four-quarter effort game leading into the finals.
“We know that Melbourne have been a bit down in the dumps over the last few weeks, especially after going down to Carlton on the weekend.
“They’ll be looking to finish their season on a high.
“So we won’t be taking it lightly. Teams have come over before and beaten us when we’ve let our guard down.”
