Do you have the passion?

Remove this Banner Ad

Mr Peabody

Club Legend
Sep 3, 2014
1,593
3,691
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
I read the OP thinking it was a current post, skimming through it due to its length not realising it was a bump of an old thread. I was a little short breathed until I'd realised my mistake. I can only imagine what some of those in the current game review threads would have been writing to the Club back then.....
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Apr 8, 2008
8,258
8,124
PollieCentral
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Fulham/76rsPhilsNovaDrexel/Atalanta
Moo knows when to bump a thread... Great reminder to keep us all in check, at the same week when Fyfe gets his first 100.

Kapow!! and his whole family are the best example I can come up with of the sort of mob that we need to attract to the Freo fanbase - not old school long term Soufs or Easts members, indeed not even West Aussies - Kapow!! and his mates never even went west of Boronia. But real deal Freo fans they are.

Long may you (and all of your family mob) drink from the cup of your primary school letter writing abilities. Or at least from your cool user name...
 
Last edited:
Was this after that Melbourne debacle where we blew a 9 goal lead?

I sadly went over for that game. Boy were we s**t. And by s**t, I mean shiiiiiiiiiit.
That's the one. Sitting in the Ponsford that second hald I felt like Krusty after betting on the Washington Generals.



Still, a great OP and a salient* reminder of the journey.

*Only using this word becuase RTB used it last week.
 
Sep 11, 2008
12,341
9,137
Adelaide
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Man Utd
In Round 15, 2009, Fremantle achieved the lowest score in its history and of the 2000s, scoring only 1.7 (13) to the Adelaide Crows' 19.16 (130).[11] It was held to just one point in the first half and the only goal scored came in the third quarter.

I attended this game, as I do with pretty much all games in Adelaide. I remember knowing it was going to be pretty bad when Pavlich and Sandilands were out, but this was the worst game of football I have ever seen. We have come along way, but it doesn't hurt to remember these moments and try to stay humble. (Unless we are playing the eagles :) )
 

Purplrrr

All Australian
Jun 15, 2011
751
823
AFL Club
Fremantle
In Round 15, 2009, Fremantle achieved the lowest score in its history and of the 2000s, scoring only 1.7 (13) to the Adelaide Crows' 19.16 (130).[11] It was held to just one point in the first half and the only goal scored came in the third quarter.

I attended this game, as I do with pretty much all games in Adelaide. I remember knowing it was going to be pretty bad when Pavlich and Sandilands were out, but this was the worst game of football I have ever seen. We have come along way, but it doesn't hurt to remember these moments and try to stay humble. (Unless we are playing the eagles :) )

Everytime we are butchering some team now, I pray that we can keep them to 13 points or less. I feel it's the only way I can exorcise that game from my brain. But, I guess that's not very humble, is it? :confused:
 
Kapow we've come a long way brother.

Strewth that's a long bump Moo. I was 18 (member on these forums since i was 14), first year of uni and apparently like many on here at the time in a state nearing football nihilism. I will admit now that at the time this post was a rather throw-away email that I fully expected (and somewhat hoped) to be deleted from the club inbox. It mainly served as a cathartic expression of frustration and depression that I felt a few people might be able to relate to so I posted it on here and a couple of other forums. What followed was a rather large snowball in which many supporters also vented and apparently the letter gained traction and actually found its way deep inside the club although the evidence of that is purely anecdotal. Whilst it was pleasing that this post resonated so deeply with other Freo faithful after that fateful Melbourne game and again a year later for the Adelaide "13 pointer" (A game I missed due to being away on a bucks weekend and....er...um, was "in a better place"), It's still not quite the same as being able to enjoy the success with the same people.

Now I'm 25, working in a Pathology Lab and have since shared many highs and crushing lows. I've seen us win a few times starting with a game on the Gold Coast against Carlton going all the way to the fun 2013 Qualifying Final. I've even met a few people on here at the BigFooty pre-GF meetup at the Great Northern Hotel (Moo, you were too busy entertaining everyone in that famous wig to sign an autograph for me :D) and again at the Sydney QF last year. Even though my posting rate has dramatically dropped off over the years to the point where I'm essentially just a lurker these days, the best thing about the here and now is that it's no longer a restless mess because the effort and pride in the jumper isn't there. If anything the restlessness around here comes from the lack of silverware and the questions being raised around here aren't why someone should be dropped to be kicked up the arse (well, mostly, Sylvia and Simpson are obvious exceptions and from I've seen Moller has only just started to turn that around at Peel) but rather because they might not be the best to beat the best. It's been a joy to see some of the posters who have come in: the Rise of arguably the most passionate Freo supporter on the planet in Seppo, the podcasts, the training reports. In most aspects right now is the best time to be alive for a Freo fan...almost

I remember when we moved for Ross Lyon and being a bit sympathetic to Harvey but also acknowledging that at least we moved for the best. What I didn't realise at the time was how monumental a moment that was: We were no longer happy kicking around on the kiddy table anymore. It's been amazing to see this club become a respected and feared force in the AFL for the first time. In many ways the longing in that letter has been fulfilled as it's pretty cool to be the Freo supporting bloke these days up here. But as everyone here knows that's nothing without the credentials to back it up so I hope so badly to be celebrating on the first Saturday night in October with many Freo fans for our first flag. Time will tell I guess, there's a lot of water left to go under this season's bridge.

Sorry for the long and rather scratchy post, this thread just took me back a little. I hope we are never in this pit again.
 

jedi mind tricks

Brownlow Medallist
Mar 13, 2011
13,548
12,952
Dream State
AFL Club
Fremantle
Strewth that's a long bump Moo. I was 18 (member on these forums since i was 14), first year of uni and apparently like many on here at the time in a state nearing football nihilism. I will admit now that at the time this post was a rather throw-away email that I fully expected (and somewhat hoped) to be deleted from the club inbox. It mainly served as a cathartic expression of frustration and depression that I felt a few people might be able to relate to so I posted it on here and a couple of other forums. What followed was a rather large snowball in which many supporters also vented and apparently the letter gained traction and actually found its way deep inside the club although the evidence of that is purely anecdotal. Whilst it was pleasing that this post resonated so deeply with other Freo faithful after that fateful Melbourne game and again a year later for the Adelaide "13 pointer" (A game I missed due to being away on a bucks weekend and....er...um, was "in a better place"), It's still not quite the same as being able to enjoy the success with the same people.

Now I'm 25, working in a Pathology Lab and have since shared many highs and crushing lows. I've seen us win a few times starting with a game on the Gold Coast against Carlton going all the way to the fun 2013 Qualifying Final. I've even met a few people on here at the BigFooty pre-GF meetup at the Great Northern Hotel (Moo, you were too busy entertaining everyone in that famous wig to sign an autograph for me :D) and again at the Sydney QF last year. Even though my posting rate has dramatically dropped off over the years to the point where I'm essentially just a lurker these days, the best thing about the here and now is that it's no longer a restless mess because the effort and pride in the jumper isn't there. If anything the restlessness around here comes from the lack of silverware and the questions being raised around here aren't why someone should be dropped to be kicked up the arse (well, mostly, Sylvia and Simpson are obvious exceptions and from I've seen Moller has only just started to turn that around at Peel) but rather because they might not be the best to beat the best. It's been a joy to see some of the posters who have come in: the Rise of arguably the most passionate Freo supporter on the planet in Seppo, the podcasts, the training reports. In most aspects right now is the best time to be alive for a Freo fan...almost

I remember when we moved for Ross Lyon and being a bit sympathetic to Harvey but also acknowledging that at least we moved for the best. What I didn't realise at the time was how monumental a moment that was: We were no longer happy kicking around on the kiddy table anymore. It's been amazing to see this club become a respected and feared force in the AFL for the first time. In many ways the longing in that letter has been fulfilled as it's pretty cool to be the Freo supporting bloke these days up here. But as everyone here knows that's nothing without the credentials to back it up so I hope so badly to be celebrating on the first Saturday night in October with many Freo fans for our first flag. Time will tell I guess, there's a lot of water left to go under this season's bridge.

Sorry for the long and rather scratchy post, this thread just took me back a little. I hope we are never in this pit again.

The last paragraph I think is important for us as supporters. Imagine if we were coasting through at average to great seasons. Would we have a different psyche.

I am grateful to those who have got Freo to where they are now and love the passion and support us supporters have shown through the good and most importantly dark times.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

I still rate it my favourite post ever on BF :thumbsu:

Maybe so but having just re-read the thread again...Jeez my mum carried on a bit didn't she? :$

Although you'd be surprised that I actually still cop some flack for this post from people who thought I was being a bit precious.
 
Last edited:

Purple_Blood93

Team Captain
Oct 1, 2013
423
189
Perth, WA
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Chelsea
Wow, didn't know this post existed, great OP and thread, take a bow, Kapow! (Rhyme not intentional) :rolleyes:

Me and my mum became members in 2007, even now, I look back and love the club as much as I did back then, I'm turning 22 years old on the 1st of June, and to think I was 14 years old when we joined, next year will be our 10th year, in all these years, we have never missed a home game, haven't missed an away derby in a while and have been to one Freo interstate game (vs. Hawthorn at the MCG in 2011) rain, hail or shine.

I still remember the "bad" days, the game against Adelaide in 2009, the capitulation to Melbourne, it's nice for this thread to reminisce about those days, remember where we came from to where we are now, it truly is humbling, this thread should stay around for us fellow members to post about our memories and to remember.

(Sorry for the longish post, never usually write them) :)
 
Jul 15, 2007
9,634
7,239
Too far from my bed
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Boston Celtics, Patriots
Yeah, great bump.

Like revisiting the 'tough times' these days when we're such a strong club. It's like chalk and cheese. Re-reading the OP reminded me of some of those times that stick right in your mind. Like getting thumped by nearly 100 points at Subi oval against (admittedly very good at the time) Port team on a miserable day with the stadium less than half full (I mean literally 15K people or something). We had lost every game of the season to that point (Rnd 14) and crawling to our record 18 straight losses. I just remember how bad we were, but I loved the Freo just the same. I cheered like crazy and turned up and watched TV always hopeful this would be the day, I never expected a win those days but at the start of every game I was passionate and optimistic. Looking back I can't believe how positive I felt about the club back then. We were every bit as bad as Carlton are now, but without that long tradition (not formally anyway, Freo itself has a long deep footy tradition of course) on which to hang your hat on. But I just loved the club.

Now I love it just as much, but the passion is has a valued friend in pride. We can be proud of being a power club, the envy of many and the ones handing out the humiliation rather than receiving it. Ahhh, good times. :thumbsu:
 
Last edited:
Sep 22, 2011
29,796
29,047
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Liverpool FC, Washington Wizards
Was this after that Melbourne debacle where we blew a 9 goal lead?

I sadly went over for that game. Boy were we s**t. And by s**t, I mean shiiiiiiiiiit.
Remembered thinking Harvey definitely not taking us anywhere after the implosion we had against Hawthorn in 2011. Think we were 5 goals up and decided to defend with no structure in the last, just crumbled due to poor coaching.
 

Purple_Blood93

Team Captain
Oct 1, 2013
423
189
Perth, WA
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Chelsea
Remembered thinking Harvey definitely not taking us anywhere after the implosion we had against Hawthorn in 2011. Think we were 5 goals up and decided to defend with no structure in the last, just crumbled due to poor coaching.

Yep, at the MCG, I was there.

The first game I ever went interstate for, we had no plan in the last, we were done.
 

Eski3

Premiership Player
Sep 26, 2007
3,025
8,407
East Fremantle
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
East Freo
Strewth that's a long bump Moo. I was 18 (member on these forums since i was 14), first year of uni and apparently like many on here at the time in a state nearing football nihilism. I will admit now that at the time this post was a rather throw-away email that I fully expected (and somewhat hoped) to be deleted from the club inbox. It mainly served as a cathartic expression of frustration and depression that I felt a few people might be able to relate to so I posted it on here and a couple of other forums. What followed was a rather large snowball in which many supporters also vented and apparently the letter gained traction and actually found its way deep inside the club although the evidence of that is purely anecdotal. Whilst it was pleasing that this post resonated so deeply with other Freo faithful after that fateful Melbourne game and again a year later for the Adelaide "13 pointer" (A game I missed due to being away on a bucks weekend and....er...um, was "in a better place"), It's still not quite the same as being able to enjoy the success with the same people.

Care to elaborate if you don't mind?
 
Apr 10, 2010
6,649
9,167
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
AFC Wimbledon
Somehow its still hard to believe that today was the clubs biggest ever loss considering how up and and down, and down, and down the Fremantle journey has been over the last 24 years. But by the final final siren I was reminded of Kapow!!!'s letter and wanted to try and find it again.

To be fair today feels very different to back then, young kids and under-done players getting tired against a very good team that had so much to play for, I remember when Freo wining two in a row was a legitimate run of success, something to be hoped for months in advance. I don't doubt that the club has the passion, top to bottom but still how often have us WA fans heard the Freo chant go up at an interstate game? A small group sounding like they filled half a stadium. If you were at Geelong today, I'm sorry, you deserved better.

Heads up Kapow!!! if you're still around, surely we'll get there one day :D
 
Apr 25, 2011
2,213
4,678
AFL Club
Fremantle
What Kapow wrote in the original post :) I'd put up with the looks of pity, the snide remarks from work colleagues and whoever you end up socialising with in pubs a-plenty. But being a passionate supporter, it isn't about this one game that you win - or lose, or the season that you are winning or losing, it's a much bigger thing. He wrote that in a moment of despair, but I've seen plenty of players over the years playing their heart out for us - and in a year like this that's been quite shite, I've still seen the passion in the players (Walters in quite a few games overplaying to try and put something in to the team, a shame as his kicks are usually awful when he is in tryhard mode) - and hell, our future Captain Brayshaw pretty well told us when he got drafted that he will love this club for his career.

Due to work commitments, I could only go to a smattering of the games in Vic, so 15 or so games that I saw here up to 2010, it took a trip back to in Perth to see the first live win. I copped the beatings here, but was rewarded when watching our occassional wins at Subi on tv. Anyways, when we ended up contending for a few years - hmmmmmmm that was sweet to actually go to the G and see a win.

So while I hate to see a loss and loathe a thumping, I can still tolerate a beating like the cats game, given that we have clearly cut away big parts of the list, put in yoof and put experience in to them. I've seen repeated losses, many of them ugly with a developed list - it is that which is intolerable, seeing it while we are clearly building a future list is uncomfortable but acceptable.

Look at the big picture, it's not so bad knowing we will soon have a list chock full of 22-25 year olds with an impressive resume of experience that can go for years, instead of being laden with an ageing, broken down list, we will have a list that we can do good things with. The wheel will turn and turn again, we will be great again, s**t again great again, s**t again as surely as night follows day - and I'll still be loving my club.
 
Back