An initiative that began in a Fremantle leadership group meeting is now underway, with Fremantle players getting behind the phones to thank a portion of members who have pledged their 2020 membership to support the club.

Fremantle launched the FOREVER Project last week, which has the aim of securing the club’s future while providing a number of incentives to members to remain on board for 2020.

Reece Conca and Andrew Brayshaw got the ball rolling by making calls to a handful of FOREVER Heroes who pledged their support.

As a member of Fremantle’s leadership group, Conca said he was right behind the idea to reach out to the club’s members. 

“I’m excited, I think making the calls will be really fun,” Conca said.

“Obviously, the members are the lifeblood of the club and we’re incredibly grateful for everything they do.

“This is just a little gesture we can make as players to give something back.”

On the calls, Brayshaw hit it off with Tony, an owner of a finance company.

Brayshaw is currently completing his first year of a finance degree at Curtin University and tried to pick Tony’s brain as they bantered about footy.

“Leon from Bonfire Finance, he was probably the funniest,” Brayshaw said.

“He was very funny but it was honestly great to speak to all of them, they all had their own story and it was good to get in contact with them.”

Conca said he related strongly to Kylie, who refused to pick a favourite Freo player when Conca pushed her on the issue.

“Kylie, was great. I accused her of being Switzerland as she wouldn’t pick a favourite player,” Conca said. 

“And now I’m going to be Switzerland on this one. I loved all of our members so I couldn’t pick a favourite, they were all great.”

Perhaps the highlight came when Brayshaw was chatting to Leanne, who spoke about how most of her family went for West Coast.

Brayshaw, whose brother Hamish plays for the Eagles, gave her a pitch to get everyone over to the purple side of town.

“Leanne, I have a brother that plays for the Eagles and I’m guessing that he hasn’t called up your family,” Brayshaw said.

“Now we’ve called you guys, surely we can get the whole family across to the Dockers!” 

After being showered with well-wishes for Fremantle’s round two clash against Brisbane, Brayshaw said he felt even more motivated to get a result as payback for the support. 

“It was heart-warming to hear why each member has pledged a portion of their membership, or their whole membership,” Brayshaw said.

“I’ve never done something like that and as we know, without those people, the club can’t function.

“It was really cool to hear their stories and we really can’t thank them enough.

“It was a great experience and the boys are going to be ringing up members throughout the next few weeks. Hopefully, we get to do a few more as it was a really good experience.”

Brayshaw said he felt for the members who will miss out on seeing the team in action.

“We know they’ll be cheering us on behind the TV screen and supporting us in any way they can.”