At any cost: Freo faithful make pilgrimage east for historic grand final

September 21, 2026 — 12:47pm

Some are taking the long way, even taking flights via other overseas capitals, such as Bali or Singapore.

Some are reaching deep into their wallets to get to Melbourne direct.

And some have begun the 3300-kilometre drive across the Nullarbor.

Whatever the way and whatever the price, Fremantle fans are beating a path to the MCG after the club booked a historic second AFL grand final appearance this Saturday.

Fremantle secured their passage to the big dance after the team’s come-from-behind victory over the Sydney Swans on Friday night. It will be only the second time in the club’s 32-year history that the Dockers have made it to the last game in September.

The West Australian side will face a Brisbane team looking to secure their own slice of history by equalling the feats of the Leigh Matthews-coached premiership team that won three titles in a row from 2001 to 2003, before being defeated by Port Adelaide in 2004.

In the hours after the triumph, airlines added dozens of new flights between Perth and Melbourne.

For those yet to book, reaching Melbourne from Perth is likely to cost as much as a trip to Europe.

Virgin added 20 flights and almost 4000 seats to help ferry passengers east, with Qantas and Virgin also bolstering capacity on Friday evening.

Almost all of those travellers will be paying a minimum return fare of roughly $2000 and, most likely, closer to $3000.

“It’s absolutely gouging, but we’re a hostage to them. We’re at their mercy,” die-hard Fremantle fan Matt Richardson said.

A review on Saturday morning shows just a handful of direct flights in the days before and after the grand final costing less than $1000.

One Fremantle supporter, Kathy Collett, has managed to secure two 100-seat fokker aircraft to help fans get to Melbourne ahead of the grand final.

“I think it was probably about two and a half months ago, three months ago,” Collett told 6PR’s Chrissy Morrissey.

“We did it back in 2013, and we just thought, we know how costly it gets if you leave it to the last minute.

“So we thought let’s go back to the list we did in 2013 and see if we get much interest.

“And lo and behold, everyone was on board. And then it went from one plane to two planes, and there was even talk of trying to get a third.”

The planes, affectionately nicknamed the “Docker Fokkers”, will take off on Friday morning before returning to WA on the Sunday following the grand final.

Collett said the flights would cost passengers $1700 for the return flight.

“Of that, it was a $200 deposit, which was non-refundable,” she said.

“So, if the Dockers didn’t get into the grand final, the plane wouldn’t be going, and that deposit is forfeited to the charter company. So it was a $200 gamble whether we got in or not, which was great.”

For those who could not secure flights, the next most popular method of transport is the iconic Nullarbor crossing, where drivers and passengers should keep an eye out for a purple-clad Hyundai Santa Fe.

The driver of the vehicle is BackChat podcaster Seb Clarke, who is starting the journey this morning in the ‘Wharfie Mobile’ from Fremantle.

“We actually booked this in about midway through the year, we were so confident that the Dockers would get there,” he said.

“On Friday night we got a lot of fans to come down to Freo and sign the car with messages of support.

“This is before the Sydney game actually took place, we were that confident.”

Clarke said he expected to call a couple of Wharfie Times during the 3000 kilometre-trip to keep the road trip spirits high, and is also hopeful to snare himself a ticket to the match along the way.

Should Fremantle defeat the Lions on Saturday, inaugural Docker and former club captain Shaun McManus has been named as the 2026 Premiership Cup Presenter.

McManus’s legacy with Fremantle began all the way back in 1995, debuting as a 19-year-old as part of the inaugural Fremantle side that made history by joining the competition as the second West Australian team.

An AFL Rising Star nominee in 1995 who earned WA State of Origin selection the same year, McManus played 18 games in that first season, beginning a journey that would go on to span 14 seasons and 228 games as a player for the club.

Since retiring, McManus has been a co-host on Nova 93.7’s popular breakfast show, Nathan, Nat & Shaun since 2009. He has also provided special commentary for Channel 7 during WA AFL matches.

The choice of who would be given the role as official cup presenter had been a major topic of conversation since the Dockers made the grand final, with fans considering if current Sydney Swans chief executive and former Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich should be get the nod.

Another name raised was two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe, while others suggested Peter Bell, who was named as cup presenter if the side managed to win the 2013 grand final.

However, Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick said McManus’ influence at the club since its inception made him a terrific Premiership Cup presenter.

“The courage he showed on field speaks for itself, but ever since retiring he’s been a passionate and positive influence, someone who purely lives and breathes Freo,” Garlick said.

“If we are good enough to get the job done on Saturday, it will be a great moment to see Shaun present the cup to Alex, and his old teammate Justin.”

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has praised local football fans for their behaviour following Fremantle’s victory over the Swans on Friday night, but has warned of an increased presence for Saturday’s Grand Final.

While the historic comeback victory led to massive crowds taking to the streets in the port city, police and local authorities did not report any significant increase in arrests.

Blanch said while there were one or two idiots doing the wrong thing, people celebrating in Fremantle on Friday night were overwhelmingly “having a ball and doing the right thing”.

“I saw a lot of West Australians celebrating, obviously a win and a spot in the grand final,” he said.

“Pretty well-behaved overall, and I think that’s good.

“People were in a positive mood, and police were there to make sure people were safe.

“However, we enjoyed it as well. We’re all West Australians, and I think it’s something we should also enjoy.”

Blanch said there are plans for an increased presence across the state for Grand Final day.

“Certainly, we’ll increase the numbers of police for the weekend,” he said.

“But again, police are there and we always find that West Australians behave extremely well.

“There’s always one or two people doing the wrong thing. We’re there primarily for them and overwhelmingly there for the safety of the crowds.”

Blanch also acknowledged an increase in cases of domestic violence and bad behaviour during major sporting events, and is expecting a rise in demand for police.

“Sadly, every summer and major sporting events, we do see an increase in family violence, often through the consumption of alcohol and different emotions,” he said.

“We are aware of it. It’s a pattern that has continued for decades, and police always are aware that our demand will significantly increase through those periods.

“Go to Northbridge on a Saturday night. There’s always going to be one or two idiots doing the wrong thing. But can I say, overwhelmingly, the people there on Fremantle on the night were having a ball and doing the right thing.”