Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
If Fremantle are to claim a maiden AFL premiership this year, they will have to block out or overcome lingering questions about their ability to win on the biggest stage of all.
The Dockers were the dominant side through the home-and-away season, finishing a game clear on top of the ladder.
It guaranteed the WA club two home finals and the chance to map out a travel-free path to grand final week.
But victory at the MCG is required on the last Saturday in September in order for Fremantle to hoist the cup aloft for the first time since entering the competition in 1995.
“You do have to learn how to win here,” Brisbane Lions triple-premiership legend Michael Voss said when he stood on the hallowed turf on Monday.
“It’s a different arena and you’ll hear most interstate teams come along and say how many times do they get a chance to be able to play on it?
“They obviously only get very limited opportunity, a couple of times a year, so that narrative can build a little bit.
“Then there’s just the point when they have those really important breakthroughs.”
Fremantle’s MCG form line – or what little there is of it – doesn’t offer much insight into what might occur in the finals.
In just two visits this year, the Dockers registered a comfortable win over bottom side Essendon (round 10) and a narrow loss against Melbourne (round 22).
“It will no doubt be a question that will be asked of Fremantle throughout the next month, until they do actually get near it,” Voss said.
“Hopefully they’re only thinking that’s on grand final day.
“But when you become familiar with this environment it feels like it becomes your second home.”
Brisbane already have that sense after featuring in the past three grand finals, and loom large in their bid for a premiership hat-trick under Chris Fagan.
It would match the feats of the Leigh Matthews-coached team from 2001-03, which Voss led brilliantly as captain.
“They’re as well placed as any team and they’re a really mature group now,” Voss said of the current Lions group.
“I wouldn’t have thought that too much would concern them. If anything, you can see their motivation levels have definitely fluctuated across the course of the year.
“However, that’s all been removed now. They don’t have to worry too much other than just getting September right.
“They know how to do that, so that makes them a pretty scary proposition.”
Fremantle and Brisbane open their finals campaigns this week, in qualifying finals against Hawthorn and Sydney respectively.
Voss, who stepped down as Carlton coach in May after a horror start to the season, finds it hard to split the minor and reigning premiers this year but leans towards the Dockers.
“Fremantle are probably the team to beat for mine,” Voss said.
“They’re well positioned, they’ve got good health, they’ve got some really strong form and they’ve probably been looking at this for about a month and can’t wait for this particular moment.”
Voss spoke on Monday as part of a Sherrin promotion, with the AFL supplier reproducing footballs from the past 25 grand finals this month for sale.
The 51-year-old, who played 289 games for the Lions and featured in four grand finals, had no doubt which ball would take pride of place in his house.
“The first one would have to be the best one,” Voss said.
“When you win the grand final after pretty much dreaming about it your whole life, it sits in a special place.
“If I’ve got the three balls at home – which I do – the ’01 has definitely got the prominent position.”
