Fremantle fans paint city purple after prelim win, 32-year drought weighs heavy
Hundreds flooded Fremantle's CBD in celebration after beating Sydney, marking the first step toward the Dockers' first flag.
After Fremantle beat Sydney in the preliminary final, hundreds of fans poured into the city's streets in jubilant chaos. Fremantle's CBD erupted in celebrations, with fans dancing, hugging and celebrating in the pouring rain.
The crowd transformed the streets into a sea of purple. The city has spent 32 years chasing its first premiership.
In that time, supporters endured false dawns, painful defeats and mockery from rivals like the West Coast Eagles, who have won four flags. Fremantle joined the AFL in 1995.
Supporters say the league turned its back on them while welcoming West Coast. That resentment runs deep.
The city is literally painting its streets purple. Even a local real estate agent used the slogan "It's Wharfie Time" on flyers.
For battle-hardened fans, the hunger is finally palpable.
- 32 years
- Years since premiership drought began
- 1995
- Year Fremantle joined AFL
- 4 flags
- West Coast premierships
Why it mattersThe intensity of Fremantle's celebrations shows how much a premiership would mean to a fanbase that has waited 32 years.
AustraliaFremantle hosts today's AFL Grand Final with a chance to win the club's first premiership in 32 years.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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