As Fremantle prepare to take on their biggest game in a decade, an AFL great has taken a playful swipe at their lack of premiership success.
The Dockers will face Sydney for a chance to enter just their second grand final in their 32-year history if they can take down the Swans later tonight.
Their last preliminary final came in 2015, where they were outclassed by eventual premiership winners Hawthorn just two years after the Hawks had triumphed over the Dockers in their only grand final appearance in 2013.
Hawthorn great Luke Hodge was captaining against Fremantle on both occasions and didn’t miss the chance to take a light-hearted dig at Fremantle.
“I was a premiership cup ambassador, obviously took it over to Fremantle, and they were surprised they’ve never seen one before,” he joked on Channel 7’s The Front Bar.
“So it was good to introduce it to them; they’ve obviously got a chance if they win this Friday.”
Hodge had 21 touches and two clearances in the 2013 grand final and was one of the best in 2015, finishing with 25 touches, seven marks, six tackles and three clearances.
While Hodge can’t stand in Fremantle’s way this time, Hawthorn could still prove a roadblock should they beat Brisbane in Saturday’s preliminary final.
If both the Dockers and Hawks win, it will mirror Fremantle’s 2013 grand final run, in which they beat Geelong and Sydney to set up a decider against Hawhtorn.
Fremantle fans will hope Hodge could be eating his words come the end of September.
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