As another finals series begins it is this September campaign that will define the current group of Fremantle Dockers players.
Will they finally break through and claim the club’s maiden flag? Or will they join those in recent history who have shown home-and-away promise only to ultimately fall short and have their premiership window shut?
A number of clubs have shown that they can develop a winning culture that stands up to the rigours of week-to-week football but it is September and particularly its pointy end that proves too difficult an obstacle to overcome.
After missing opportunities it can take years to rebuild before you are back competing at the top end of the ladder.
Looking back at these teams will no doubt reawaken the dreaded ‘what ifs’ for their supporter groups. Fremantle fans will be hoping they do not join this group and the players no doubt feel the pressure knowing their premiership window can shut and shut hard.
Collingwood 2002-2003
While not the best looking team on paper the Collingwood squad in 2002-03 possessed a determination and grit much like their coach Mick Malthouse and defied the odds to make consecutive grand finals.
A contentious Anthony Rocca point in 2002 still haunts many Magpie faithful and after the tears dried the 2003 season showed much promise. The Pies flew into the grand final having beaten Brisbane in the qualifying final but it all ended in heartbreak and back-to-back grand final defeats.
Aftermath: The Pies’ window shut and they finished 13th and 15th in the following two seasons.
Adelaide 2005-2006
A well drilled, well oiled machine, Neil Craig’s Crows of the mid 2000s showed they were capable of winning and winning consistently from March through to August. They finished top of the ladder in 2005 and second in 2006, but they came undone in the finals. The Crows won just two of five finals games, including the 2006 preliminary final at home.
Aftermath: The Crows held a place in the eight without firing a shot from 2007 to 2009 before falling down the ladder, culminating in a 14th placing in 2011.
Western Bulldogs 2008-2010
The Doggies had become preliminary specialists in the late 1990s after making consecutive prelims in 1997 and 1998. This group of the late 2000s went one better by making three consecutive preliminary finals.
The outcome was much the same, however. While a lack of key forwards hurt them in 2008 and 2009 the recruitment of Barry Hall was meant to take the Dogs to the next level. Instead they went out in the penultimate week to the Saints.
Aftermath: The door slammed hard with 10th, 15th, 15th and 14th place finishes over the subsequent four years.
St Kilda 2009-2010
Possibly the all-time team that came closest to a premiership without winning one were the Saints of 2009 and 2010. Top of the ladder and a record winning streak in 2009 as well as a top three finish in 2010 showed that the Saints of this era were one of the elite home-and-away sides.
This home-and-away form held strong throughout September. It also held right up until the very end of the last quarter of a grand final. Twice. That is until the final siren.
Aftermath: The Saints crashed swiftly to go from drawn grand finalist to wooden spoon winner inside four years.
Will the window shut on Fremantle? The Dockers have shown that they are more than capable during the home-and-away season but it is September and in particular this September that will define them as historic premiers or lead to their status as also-rans.
With Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands and Luke McPharlin just some of the upcoming retirees and queries on the ability of Ross Lyon to regenerate and grow a list, the Dockers will know that a golden opportunity faces them in the coming four weeks. They must strike before these factors take effect and influence their next premiership assault.
Where Fremantle land in the history books rests entirely at their feet this September.
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