Fremantle rallies fans for pre-match march as entertainment revealed
While West Coast opted to break with tradition and have players run through a giant inflatable Eagles beak at their AFL debut at the new Optus Stadium on Saturday, Fremantle will stick with tradition.
And the Dockers not only have a massive pre-game entertainment plan in place, but on Wednesday released an official app for fans called 'game day' to source the latest information before each match at the 60,000-seat venue.
The Dockers make their home debut at the stadium this Saturday evening (5.10pm) against Essendon but their pre-game entertainment will kick off from 4.30pm.
"We're very much looking forward to the new presentation," club CEO Steve Rosich told Radio 6PR's Afternoons program with Simon Beaumont.
Two songs, AC/DC's Thunderstruck and Prince's Purple Rain will play before the team runs out a bit of a twist on too.
A third track will also be featured in the 40-minute pre-game bonanza but that will be revealed on Friday through the new app.
"It's by an iconic Australian band ... participation and engagement of the crowd is important so it's probably more of an 80s, 90s vibe I guess," Rosich revealed.
"We did workshop it with staff through the off-season... I am particularly keen on this one but I think it'll add nicely to Thunderstruck and Purple Rain."
He urged as many fans as possible to download the app to keep up to date with the latest news before game day.
"We appreciate it's the first time for many [to the stadium]... and all that information that members and supporters need about transport, gate times, ticketing etc including game-day entertainment is on there," he said.
Fremantle supporters gelled during the 2013 grand final and the club hopes for the same when the Dockers debut at Optus Stadium this Saturday.
Photo: TONY ASHBYAnd while West Coast fans seemed to favour retaining the banner, as well as the inflatable Eagle, Rosich said the Dockers would be keeping the tradition.
"We're very keen on the tradition that's synonomus with the AFL," Rosich said.
"So the team will be running through a predominantly purple banner."
Freo fan march
A tradition Fremantle wants to create is also in the purple pipeline, with the Freo cheersquad leading fans on a walk from Crown Perth to the stadium along the banks of the Swan River from 4.10pm.
Musicians will be on hand to keep fans marching to the beat, in scenes likely to be reminiscent of the club's first grand final appearance in 2013 when a mass of Freo fans gathered for the long walk to the MCG.
"Get your mates together, meet at Transit Bar (a junior-member friendly pop-up bar outside Crown Towers) and join the Freo faithful before every Freo game at Optus Stadium in 2018," the club's website said.
Fans wanting to know their transport options to the game can get detailed information here.