Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
It’s been four years since Fremantle forward Michael Frederick last looked at his individual stats.
But there is one important sheet of paper he gazes upon every day when he opens up his locker – it’s Andrew Brayshaw’s famous immortals letter.
The Dockers are just one win away from ending the club’s 32-year premiership drought, with Saturday’s grand final against Brisbane set to end in pure elation or utter devastation for the Flagmantle train.
Several seasons ago star Dockers midfielder Brayshaw wrote a letter and put it in everyone’s locker.
The letter read: “The first 22 men to win a premiership at Fremantle will be immortals.”
“It’s still there. I look at it every day,” Frederick told AAP.
“It’d be pretty special to achieve it, and I know no one’s going to take the opportunity for granted.
“If we’re able to get it done on the weekend, no one can take that away from us.”
Frederick kicked an important goal from 13 disposals in Fremantle’s thrilling 12-point preliminary-final win over Sydney at the SCG.It came a week after he kicked two goals in the Dockers’ semi-final triumph over Geelong.
But prior to those games, Frederick had received plenty of external flak after only managing 0.1 from seven disposals in last year’s one-point elimination-final loss to Gold Coast, and being held scoreless from 10 possessions in the qualifying-final loss to Hawthorn three weeks ago.
Frederick was able to mostly protect himself from the external criticism that came his way.
“It’s not much of a challenge because I don’t read or hear any of it,” Frederick said.
“What you can’t see can’t hurt you. So I’ve been pretty good in the last few years of blocking out that kind of noise on social media or whatever it might be.
“I know people talk about it, but for me I don’t really care because I’m the one that’s out there and I know what’s valued by my coaches.”
Even though the stats may not always stand out, Frederick’s gut running and intense pressure while playing a selfless role are highly valued by coach Justin Longmuir.
“That’s something that JL is big on. Like he doesn’t look into stats,” said Frederick, who has kicked 26.10 this season on the back of 30 goals last year.
“I haven’t looked into stats in the last four years, to be honest.
“Knowing what the coaches expect of us as a group and individuals, I know if I’m ticking those boxes that’s the reason why I’m playing in JL’s team.”
Frederick sent Dockers fans wild in 2023 when he unleashed an audacious backflip after kicking a goal against West Coast.
So will the man dubbed ‘Fast Freddy’ unleash another flip in the grand final?
“Probably not,” he said with a chuckle.
“We’ll see how we’re going and then go from there. The last time I did one was in Broome last year at the Kimberley 9s. All the kids were asking, and they loved it.”
