If we hear the bells toll at the MCG in the last quarter on Saturday, the Grand Final will be close.
The AFL has cleared Fremantle to play Wharfie Time, the crowd activation Dockers fans know from Optus Stadium, in the decider against Brisbane. There are conditions though, and here is how Fremantle Dockers can use Wharfie Time at the AFL Grand Final to get the crowd behind the boys.
It only comes into play if the game is tight in the final term, and it runs as part of Freo’s post-goal celebrations.
It can only be played once, and as at any Fremantle home game, there’s no guarantee it plays at all.
Things to do in Perth
Wharfie Time takes over the big screen with footage of a boat pushing through huge waves, set to the opening gong of AC/DC’s Hells Bells, providing a thumping heartbeat that makes every Freo fan’s hair stand on end.
It made its name in round nine, when the Dockers came from behind to beat Hawthorn at Optus Stadium. It was used again late in the semi-final against Geelong on September 11th, as Freo held off the Cats.
Brisbane gets its goal songs in return: Charlie Cameron’s Country Roads, Cam Rayner’s Sweet Caroline, and Kai Lohmann’s Daddy Cool. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon told 3AW that if Wharfie Time does come out, it’ll mean “we’ve got a cracking game.”
Fremantle hasn’t said who presses the button or who makes the final call.
First bounce is 12:30 pm Perth time, free on Seven and 7plus. The City of Fremantle’s four free live sites run from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, including the Cappuccino Strip. They’re alcohol-free, so if you’d rather a pub screen, start with our guide to the best pubs and bars to watch Freo in the big dance.
