Turning Adelaide purple

by LES EVERETT

A CASUAL visitor to Adelaide last weekend would have been forgiven for thinking purple was the colour of the local football team.

fans adel

Dockers fans in Adelaide (l-r) Casey Holtham, Joy Rickerby, Bev Larson, Val Timewell and Val Thornley. at the rear is Brian Thornley with his flag. Photo by Les Everett.

Fremantle fans made an impact early with trains, planes and automobiles having them pouring in to the South Australian capital from Thursday to Sunday.

On Friday morning in Rundle Mall I came across Brian and Val Thornley of Applecross wearing FFC scarves and carrying a huge Dockers flag. "We're trying to be inconspicuous," they laughed. Brian, by the way, is a brother of former East Fremantle and Carlton player Bert Thornley.

While we spoke banner crewmembers Casey Holtham, Joy Rickerby, Bev Larson and Val Timewell appeared out of nowhere.

On match day there were specks of purple among the crowd at Football Park but try as they most certainly did it was hard for the Freo faithful to be heard in open wind-swept stadium.

Things began dramatically with Graham Polak called from his seat in the crowd before the first bounce amid fears over Paul Hasleby's ability to see out the game. I saw team manager Brent Dawkins speaking to officials, probably trying to pull off the late change but in the end Hasleby remained on the ground.

Fremantle began well and led for most of the game. However the Crows handled the conditions better and ground to what was, considering their injury list, a great victory.

Fremantle's record breaking nine straight wins had earned it a second chance and the attention of players, coaches and fans alike quickly moved to the Demons at home on Friday night.

From the Fremantle Herald.

13 September 2006

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