Your guide to the AFL finals in Fremantle as the Port City turns purple

In Fremantle, belief is no longer a quiet hope – it is a public spectacle.

With the Fremantle Dockers perched firmly at the top of the AFL ladder and a minor premiership locked away with a game still to play, players and die-hard fans are priming for a historic finals campaign.

Mayor Ben Lawver believes the Dockers are an “integral part” of the Port City’s story.

The city plans to turn its famed Cappuccino Strip purple – purple road, bunting, balcony banners, tree wraps – and is also urging local businesses to join in the Flagmantle fever, with bragging rights on offer for the best window display.

If the Dockers make the big dance, the city has plans to host a major “live site” on the strip to give fans the opportunity to gather in the heart of the town and watch the game on big screens.

“Turning Fremantle purple is a visible show of support for the club, its players, members and fans, but it’s also about bringing our community together and creating an atmosphere that reflects the pride we all feel in our home-town team,” Lawver said.

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief executive Chrissie Maus said the Port City’s blood “runs purple”, and this was a moment for the town to turn the volume up.

“When Freo gets behind something, we don’t tend to do it quietly and nor should we,” she said.

Here’s how the Port City plans to turn it on as the Dockers storm towards finals.

Right in the heart of Freo is the Federal Hotel, which locals know will always get into finals spirit.

This year the hotel will ramp up the experience for each of the Dockers final games, expanding beyond into Paddy Troy Mall, to open up capacity for as many as 2000 fans in the heart of Fremantle.

No tickets are required for finals games and all rounds will be shown, whether they are home or away games.

If the Dockers make it into the grand finals, Federal Hotel digital brand coordinator Emma Paruscio said reckons it will be a bigger event than the FIFA World Cup.

The games will also be shown live and loud at the Federal’s sister venues South Beach Hotel, 8 Knots Tavern and the Bicton Tavern.