Purple fever grips Fremantle as Dockers head to AFL grand final 2026

Footy fever has taken over the spiritual home of the Dockers, as the Western Australian port city of Fremantle prepares for 40,000 fans to flood its streets for the Dockers' first AFL grand final in 13 years.

The city's famous Cappuccino Strip, lined with speciality coffee shops and historic pubs, is all but painted purple, with steamers, balloons and jerseys hanging from shop windows.

Stores are serving speciality purple produce, from beer to cannoli and even purple sausages, while public buses have changed their displays to declare it's "Wharfie Time", one of the football team's catch phrases.

Paula Nelson's belief in the Dockers is so strong, she and her family spent half a day spray painting a giant purple anchor on the front lawn.

"It was fun when we were painting the anchor because the cars going past, they're all beeping and cheering," the Fremantle resident said.

"Everyone's really behind it and I know some of the boys live locally, so I really hope they see it and know how much we're all behind them this weekend."

This is the second anchor Ms Nelson has painted . The first was in 2013, when the Dockers last played in a grand final, losing to the Hawks.

"Unfortunately we had to mow it off the lawn the next weekend," she said.

Their blood runs purple

For the Harbour Masters, the team's original support crew, Saturday's run for the club's first premiership flag has been 30 years in the making.

One thousand members donated $1,000 each to help the club get on its feet in 1994, and after three decades of belief, this weekend could finally bring the pay-off they've been praying for.

"We're, I think, the oldest supporting group, everyone in there, they bleed purple," group president James Hunt said.

"We've got so close so many times and I think everyone would say they've had their heart broken a few times by Fremantle.

"But I think this is the season where we've all deep down, we know we've got the list that can get it done in that final on Saturday."

Many Harbour Masters will be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Fremantle fever is taking hold far and wide, with the club's number one ticket holder, musician Tame Impala, rallying fans in Houston, Texas.

'Not the fun police'

WA Police are taking no chances on Saturday, deploying dozens of officers on motorbikes and horses, with dogs and riot gear, in the city the whole day.

Fremantle District Superintendent Dean Snashall said his officers would not tolerate a repeat of the impromptu street party that broke out after Friday night's preliminary final, during which several passionate supporters climbed onto shop roofs.

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"Whilst that behaviour wasn't dangerous, it won't be tolerated on Saturday," Superintendent Snashall said.

"We understand that people are going to be joyous, they're going to be rowdy. We don't mind that. We're not the fun police. We're not going to be out there to stop people having fun on an occasion like this."

Some 10,000 fans are expected to attend a licensed event at Fremantle Oval, and thousands more are expected to pack out pubs and cafes from breakfast time, as the game kicks off at 12:30 WA time (14:30 Eastern Time).

The thousands who will miss out on a seat are expected to throng the LED screens set up on the Cappuccino Strip, at Walyalup Koort, Esplanade Reserve and on the corner of Market and High Streets just for the game.

The senior police officer says these zones are a "family-friendly environment", and warned officers will not tolerate consumption of alcohol in the streets and will issue issue 'move-on' notices to anyone who does not comply.

Public transport is free across the network on Saturday as roads will be closed from Norfolk Street to the Fremantle Train Station.

For those supporters lucky enough to watch the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — a privilege some have paid dearly for — Saturday can't come soon enough.

Jack, who experienced the heartbreak of the 2013 grand final, believes the Dockers are now in with a "really good chance."

"Two teams that had a from-behind-win in the dying moments of the last quarter, it's going to be great, fantastic spectacle I think," he said.

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