Purple fever hits as fans gear up for preliminary final

With eyes glued to the television and adrenaline pumping, Warnbro footy fan Josh Medhurst watched his beloved Fremantle Dockers beat the Geelong Cats and kick their way into the their first-ever home preliminary final.

It was a moment he has been waiting for since he was five years old.

The 18-year-old, who has a collection of purple merchandise and posters, said people always doubted the Dockers, but he never lost hope that they would one day achieve greatness.

“I have been a Fremantle supporter since I can remember because my dad was a Freo supporter,” he said.

“People always made fun of the Dockers when I was younger, but I would say, ‘you just have to hang in there and wait and eventually the right stuff will come to you’,” he said.

“This year we (the Dockers) could win the premiership — we are only one game away from it.”

Fremantle fever has also gripped Rockingham businesses, with Gregory’s Pitstop Lunch Bar, located on Dixon Road, turning purple and white for the footy finals.

Co-owner Robyn Walters said she and her husband Colin had supported the Dockers since their inception.

She said neighbours heard cheers from their house when the Dockers beat Geelong.

“I never thought I’d cry over a football game, but I cried,” she said.

Mr Walters was convinced it was the Dockers’ year to win the grand final.

“We have been waiting 19 long years for this,” Mr Walters said.

All going well he said he would be at the MCG in 10 days time to watch the Dockers in their maiden grand final.