Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
It’s official — the port city of Fremantle has turned purple.
The streets have absolutely come alive with Flagmantle fever ahead of the historic grand final showdown against Brisbane on Saturday, with merchandise, flags, paint, signs, scarves, posters, balloons, cut-outs and even purple food everywhere you look.
And it’s set to become even further gripped by the purple frenzy as the exciting week rolls on, with the famous cappuccino strip set to be closed to traffic for the big dance and transformed into a parade with giant screens, entertainment and activities spilling out onto the street.
It comes after crazy scenes throughout the city after the Dockers won a preliminary final epic on Friday night, with diehard supporters celebrating, screaming and dancing through the streets draped in Freo merchandise.
The hysteria in Fremantle had barely slowed down on Sunday, with supporters soaking up the excitement in the air.
Hardcore longtime Dockers fans Rob and Jo Mariotti were revelling in the lively atmposphere off the back of their team’s preliminary final win Friday night.
“We see these people walking around Fremantle with Docker stuff on, but I wear it throughout the year. It’s nothing for us because we are just passionate Dockers fans,” Mr Mariotti said.
“We’ve got a games room full of signed jumpers, memorabilia. It’s just fan-bloody-tastic. For us to get to where we are, mate, this is massive.
The couple, adorned in Dockers’ purple, visited Fremantle on Sunday to “savour the vibe”, and had the same planned for Friday, the day before the game.
The superfans will host about 30 friends at their house in Spearwood to watch and celebrate the game on Saturday.
“It’s just going to be nuts,” Mr Marrioti said.
Fellow Dockers fans Desiree and Christopheer Wieland took to Fremantle in their jerseys Sunday, and were already on the edge of their seat with excitement for the Grand Final.
“We’ve been huge Freo supporters from day one. We’re still excited that it’s actually got this far, we’ve been waiting a long time. To celebrate it in Fremantle will be awesome, we can’t wait,” Ms Wieland said, who has tickets to the screening at Fremantle Oval, said.
Samone Hines is hoping Saturday’s aftermath doesn’t descend like it did following Fremantle’s historic Grand Final entry in 2013 when Fremantle streets “went pear shaped” as brawls broke out.
“But we’re pumped, we can’t wait, go Freo!”.
Sean Doyle will technically be working at a piercing shop during the match, but said that won’t stand in his way of enjoying the game.
“I’ll be able to see the screens from the front door, so I’ll still be a part of it. But even if I wasn’t working, I think the place to be is Fremantle,” Mr Doyle said.
“It’s just been a sea of purple because everyone’s wearing the jersey or the scarf, so I don’t know how anyone couldn’t be supporting Freo right now, just based on the energy.”
Parents Adrian and Astrid Vakilly brought their kids Cyrus and Ariana to Fremantle on Sunday as they scoped out locations to watch the Grand Final from.
“We just love being around people and short of going to the actual game at the MCG, we thought we’d come to Freo and be around the crowds,” Mr Vakilly said.
“It’s so special that they’re in the Grand Final, it’s just been awesome seeing them get through this year and the way they’ve played. I really love the new team, they’re a really good squad and it’s cool to see them come through this year.
Ms Vakilly was predicting a moment in history that will be remembered for generations to come.
“I think it’s going to be one of those core memories, if they can get through and rain purple, it will be one of those things that you always remember. Being their first and getting to watch it,” she said.
The family, like thousands of others, plan to spend Saturday in Fremantle where the atmosphere will undoubtedly be unlike anything Perth’s seen in recent history.
While the cappuccino strip will play host to the main celebrations on Saturady, a sold-out ticketed viewing event is being hosted at the nearby Fremantle Oval by the South Fremantle Football Club, while pubs across town expect to be ballooning at maximum capacity.
The Federal Hotel’s event has sold out and expects to spill into the mall, every table inside the Sail and Anchor pub has been booked, and hundreds of people have sold out The National’s event.
Ticketless punters hoping for walk-in tables are warned to expect queues similar – or longer – to those seen for the preliminary final, when lines of people snaked down the road.
Getting to Fremantle, pitted by fans as the next best place to watch the game behind the Melbourne Cricket Ground, will also be easier than usual.
“Everyone is super excited and we expect the whole of Western Australia to be watching and supporting the mighty Fremantle Dockers,” Minister for Sport and Recreation, Rita Saffioti said.
“Hundreds of extra services will be operating for Royal Show week (beginning Saturday), and trains will run every 15 mins on every line until 11.15pm, including on the Fremantle line.”
Additional efforts will be made where necessary, Ms Saffioti added.
“We will engage with the City of Fremantle to support necessary road closures and changes to public transport routes to allow for the free flowing of supporters,” she said.
“We are also happy to engage with other councils or businesses who need assistance to support their events.”
