The Dorks AFLW are walking out of Fremantle Oval heading to Cockburn just like their big brother did a few years back. So much for the plans to use that as a basis to redevelop the ground!
JT wrote a good article in the Western Post this weekend about the shambolic lack of planning and money wasted on grounds and ventures without a single decent WAFL second tier venue appearing.
Taxpayers have pumped 200 Million into the WACA which is pretty much a dud, 220 Million into a ra e track at Burswood that no ones wants, 35 Million into the East Freo debacle, and now 78 Million into Rugby League Bears.
He’s calling on Saffioti to fund a rebuild of Leederville after Templeman left with zero achieved. The state game experience left a lot to be desired with the ground facilities….
Probably realized it’s a silly idea with the club based in Cockburn…..and those facilities and ground are 10 x better then Freo Oval…..don’t think SFFC will be fussed seeing them go…..may lose a bit of revenue from them……and maybe scupper any oval redevelopment for a tad longer.
I believe they got government funding to go to Cockburn and may have got further assistance from that council as well
and to be perfectly honest they only ever used Fremantle as a vehicle to be an entity as such
But I will mention most of the public did think they would stay at Fremantle Oval after they got a building handed to them and a fair amount of local community support but I guess there were developments behind the scenes that not many would have been privy to and they went out there.
Seems a bit odd now that there are miles to any Port or Dock and they aren’t really a Fremantle as such only in a nameplate - and now their female side is gone too which was always on the cards over the past 2 years or so
I am not going to enter into an arguement over the matter, if Fremantle city Council had done more to assist with the redevelopment, then the Dockers would still be there, I have no doubt.
But with Cockburn offering land etc and both State and Federal governments stepping in as well, the offer was just too good to refuse.
The building that used to house the FFC I believe is now used by the Fremantle City Council.So I don’t think it is a white elephant at all.
Remember many many years ago SFFC was offered land out around Adenture World, with stadium to seat 40,000.But that was when the WAFL was booming.
Yeah there’s no doubt that there were behind the scenes business that few would have been across outside the four walls
For mine the best for all concerned is that they change their brand to Cockburn - it’s more aligned with what they’ve turned themselves into and where they’ve gone to
They’re not Fremantle based nor do they want to be , and have only recently decided to have a little more to do with the Port city after years of staying out mainly
There is no way that the membership of the FFC would allow the Board or WAFC to change the name of the Fremantle football club.There would be a total walk out if it were even suggested.
But I think that what I said about he FCC, the relationship between SFFC and FFC had been a strained one for a long time.And I believe that both were as much to blame as the other.
But the move is well and truly done and dusted.
But the name Fremantle will forever be with the Dockers.
Oh there were several scenarios put forward by all parties - probably goes with the turf excuse the pun
But that is a VFL club that is miles away from anywhere remotely coastal and not much to do with their nameplate - they’ve only ever used Fremantle Oval to get where they wanted
And ironically - that is to be out of there
never figured as to why they demanded that awful building when they were considering moves away
Closer to being a sea side club than the other mob.
Souths gained plenty out of FFC being there. But was always going to be a rocky road.The other mob had the same problem when the players were spread all over the place.They wanted something of power, same as FFC.the clubs didn’t want what the others wanted.
And remember that Freo oval got a great lift by Fremantle being there.
I have a foot in both camps, love both clubs and it is hard to think that things couldn’t have been resolved many years ago.
My post here was not meant to be about who loves who and who’s closer I know it’s a touchy subject or could be mate
One of the touchier points has been as to why after all the consultation around colours and having a red white & green included if not a red white & blue (both Fremantle clubs) they’ve dumped it for purple
Personally I think that current jumper is easily the worst of of any it’s just ordinary but hey I don’t support them or any VFL club so that doesn’t matter
But the other thing is over 60% combined of the two Fremantle clubs support the Lathlain entity and that’s probably why they have a lower member base
Agree, should be Cockburn, never really had much connection to the town after moving, remember the post Grand Final celebrations, when they made it last time, nothing in freo at all, had gathering down in Cockburn.
Perhaps just a generic Dockers would do…
Im not fussed with the AFLW non-sense but it was the basis for the grounds new era and surface was up to standard.
It was raised by Southerner that Fremantle should have used red white and blue, but these colours are western Bulldogs colours.
I am not going to get into a blue with you or Southerner because of your detesting of Fremantle would lead to a blue.It wasn’t my point.
But I will defend the Fremantle FC when it is needed.
I detest the VFL or whatever it falsely calls it’s true ulterior self.
It has never really indicated that it wanted Fremantle teams involvement in fact it has actively moved away from it many times - but that I put down to the Victorian influence that would be shite scared of any force like that unfolding.
As for the colours? - well the VFL just do what they want with away teams’ kits now and enforce it at will so that club could have had the red white blue and just adjusted it as required but they just caved in to Demetriou or whoever the VFL toad it was then anyway.
Being honest with how it’s all unfolded I’m happy for Cockburn or Fremantle to be where it is now it’s all been a bit too much trouble and unrest