THE FREMANTLE CONNECTION

Sheer Horror.

It was a cold Sunday afternoon out at Waverley Park. Was there ever a warm one?

Fremantle had only been in the AFL for a few years and hadn’t entirely figured out their visuals yet (arguably they still haven’t). They’d just abandoned the predominantly green jumper for the purple one, and still many years away from the triple V of now. Their song still needed a polish, but it was something about their pre-game efforts that really needed a rethink. More specifically, their mascot.

A dude in overalls and a giant, disconnected head. Cue a lifelong nightmare.

That day out at Waverley Park in 1998, Essendon went down by 24, a margin the Bombers seemed to have been down by all day. It wasn’t a win - but it wasn’t a horrible loss, which kind of sums up the Bombers history with the Fremantle Football Club. As Lrrr from Omicron Persei-8 said in Futurama, ‘Overall I rate it a C+ … okay, not great.’

This isn’t to say that the clubs don’t have history.

For the last 10 seasons things have been pretty even. Fremantle have notched up seven Ws and the Dons six. Essendon have had the wood over the Dockers in the tight ones winning by margins of 4, 6 and 7 twice. But when a belting is in order, the Dockers have brutalised the Dons, casually amassing wins of 53, 79, 37 and 48. Real stingers.

But of those wins and losses, there have been some powerful moments – one in particular springs to mind.

In the early days of the Supplement Saga that began in February 2013 (ah, the trauma) Essendon was in dire need of some positive news and got it, in the form of a phenomenal win over the Dockers. After registering only three behinds to quarter time the Dons fought back for a four-point victory. A win for the fans’ sanity!

It was a comeback … and we won it!

Who could ever forget Nathan Lovett-Murray taking on the Carr Brothers in 2006? He rag-dolled those boys like they were made of cotton - one per fist.

Though the two clubs have only shared the AFL world for just shy of 30 years, connections between the clubs run strangely deep, especially when it comes to trades. Because for some reason, the two clubs have shared more players over the course than most. There was a time where Fremantle was something of an old folks’ home for Essendon’s once best players.

I’m almost a little surprised Cale Hooker or Dyson Heppell never found their way into a purple jumper.

Mark Johnson, Dean Solomon, Scott Gumbleton, Travis Colyer and the king himself KEPLER BRADLEY (jokes people, just jokes) have all found their way out west to the Eagles’ little brother. Some did well, but most just enjoyed the warmer weather.

And then there’s probably Essendon’s most notable alumni to travel west, Mark Harvey, who was unceremoniously ousted as coach for the walking sack of potatoes that is, Ross Lyon.

If you’re ever struggling with insomnia, I recommend a YouTube sesh of Ross Lyon pressers.

Adam McPhee in action in the red & black.

But let’s not forget what we Bombers folk have received back. Adam McPhee was great for a bit, playing over 140 games and racking up 83 goals. A hell of a return for a guy most opposition fans knew as ‘that guy who kinda looks like Nick Riewoldt.’ McPhee had 7 years in the red n black before bouncing back across to the west, from whence he came. But surely the greatest Docker to Don must go to the man himself, the lord of the Ents - Zac Clarke!

Ol’ Treebeard, though sometimes a worry to watch, was something of a curious cult hero in his one and only season for the club in 2019, as our inaugural pre-season supplemental selection.

I’ll never forget that one good game he played under the roof, though I have entirely forgotten who we played. Feels about right.

This weekend’s match at Optus Stadium may not have the hallmarks of a classic encounter. I suspect most of the media will be focused on the Cats trying to reinvigorate their season against the Dees, or the fifth v fourth match-up on Friday night, or the potential game of the round of Collingwood v Adelaide on Sunday. But this game is huge for the Dons and the Dockers. For Essendon, a chance to solidify our spot in the top 8 – for Freo, a chance to keep their finals hopes alive.

And with a host of Ins this week, the Dockers won’t be an easy beat. I’ve never been more unsettled to face a team sitting 13th on the ladder. Again, that feels about right.

So yeah, the Bombers and Dockers haven’t had a huge rivalry. And sure, we hate their big brother more, and occasionally forget they exist … but we are connected.

By players.

By coaches.

By battle.

And potentially and more importantly, by the seemingly endless pain both clubs feel come September, when we remember how long it’s been since either of us have enjoyed the ultimate success.

Fremantle since forever.

Essendon since 2000 … which in 2023, is starting to feel like forever.

Go Planes.