It has taken 19 seasons and several trips to rock bottom for Fremantle to approach the AFL’s pinnacle.
The Dockers go into their first grand final complete strangers to the last Saturday in September – unlike rivals Hawthorn, who are in their third title decider in six seasons.
So how Fremantle players handle the pressure cooker atmosphere generated by more than 95,000 fans and deal with a ground they rarely play on could be pivotal to the result.
Should the Dockers win, they will be the last of the AFL’s established clubs to taste premiership success.
Fremantle’s best finals performance before this season was making the preliminary final in 2006 when beaten by Sydney.
In so many years of their short existence, Fremantle’s frailties have led to them being labelled the Shockers, though coach Ross Lyon’s arrival two years ago has transformed both team and club.
For Lyon, it is also a chance to win his first flag as a head coach.
His St Kilda team featured in three grand finals, including the 2010 replay, with no wins to show for it.
“We’re certainly under no illusions about how great a team Hawthorn’s been all year,” Lyon said.
“That burn of a losing grand final year on year, going back-to-back which I’ve done and experienced losing two – they’ll be keen to avoid that.
“We’re certainly focused. We understand we need to get into action and prepare.”
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has shrugged off any extra pressure his side may be under as the warm favourites – especially with the stigma of losing back-to-back grand finals beckoning if they fail.
“You’re not going to win every finals series that you go through, but really good clubs continue to present themselves each year,” Clarkson said of his 2008 premiers.
“That’s what we’ve done again this year.
“Is the door going to open (with a premiership win)? I don’t know.
“We’re up against a great side, we’ll be working our darndest to try to get the result but if it doesn’t come our way we’ll dust ourselves off and get ourselves ready again for next year.”
Hawthorn have made just one change – Jonathan Simpkin called up for forward Brendan Whitecross, who seriously injured his knee in last week’s preliminary final.
Fremantle will be unchanged after beating Sydney in their prelim.
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