AFL grand final: What Fremantle Dockers players, coaches and executives said after heartbreaking loss

After Fremantle’s premiership dream turned into a grand final nightmare, here is what every Dockers player, coach or executive who spoke had to say.

“If there’s one thing I know about this group and this club, we won’t give up and we’ll fight and be back here again.”

“I’m just so proud of the way we competed all day, but there’s no sugar-coating the result. It’s so disappointing, and it’s devastating.”

Norm Smith medallist Shai Bolton

“I’m honoured to get the Norm Smith, but I’m gutted for our boys.”

Vice-captain Caleb Serong

“I’d much rather be in the game and in the fight and out here today and feeling these emotions and be out here today, but it’s shocking.”

Vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw

“I’ve got no doubt in my mind that we’re going to learn from this, and we’re going to be a stronger team.”

Head of football Joe Brierty

“Ultimately, this game doesn’t give up its rewards easily, and we fell short, and that hurts. But we’ll take our time to reflect on that and get better.”

President Chris Sutherland

“We know our fans like (Wharfie Time), and what happened today after it doesn’t mean will happen tomorrow.”

Retiring forward Sam Switkowski

“I’m clearly devastated with the result, but I actually also just feel so grateful and proud of this football club.”

All Australian centre-half-forward Josh Treacy

“We’ve got to get better. I’ve got to get better.”

“I said to myself, ‘Whatever happens today, I am not going to be defined by being a premiership player or not’.”

“I don’t think we probably handled the last two to three minutes as good as we should have.”

“We can go one way or the other, and I dare say it will be the right way we choose.”

“It’s obviously a pretty devastating loss, but I thought we played really well for most of the game.”