Opinion The Fremantle Football Club: Premiership driven or entertainment brand?

[Spirit Level]

I've become really disillusioned with the club and what they're actually trying to achieve, and I know I'm not alone in this.

Over the past years I've watched it become slowly become more of a corporate brand with a focus on narratives and "engagement", rather than focusing on playing ****ing football (ie that "best things in life are" line which is ****en cringeworthy)

Take this week for example. I have no doubt in my mind that Nat Fyfe was pushed to announce his retirement this week and give his speech to create this narrative around doing it for Fyfes last hurrah and to sell out Optus stadium for our last home game.

Fair enough if it works and the boys fire up and beat the Lions it looks like a genius move, but they didn't, and it now looks like more of a distraction which has left us on the brink of missing finals for a 3rd straight year which could de devastating to the prospects of a future premiership push.

This isn't new to the Freo football club, it seems like they are constantly getting ahead of themselves and pushing narratives, rather than just focusing on playing premiership winning football (remember those tone deaf videos the club released after we were smashed by Geelong in RD 1?)

Keen to get thoughts on this. Is it stupid to suggest that the FFC are fine with the cash coming in and sitting comfortably? Or do you truly believe the club is doing everything it can to grab that first cup?

 

[Perfect Purple]

Mmmm food for thought Spirit.

 

[Kram]

wot

 

[Lach72]

wot

Yeah bit of shark jumping going here

 

[PrancingPony]

Huh?

 

[TheMcManusNose]

Two things can be true.

You are off your rocker.

And

The current higher ups lack ruthlessness.

 

[Spirit Level]

Two things can be true.

You are off your rocker.

And

The current higher ups lack ruthlessness.

I didn't consider the incompetence/out of their depth factor in the OP which I admit is also likely.

But if that's the case, isn't a club that's achieved nothing in it's existence better off letting the footy do the talking and not messing with all this external BS?

I dunno, I just want a premiership and can't see the club achieving it

 

[Randomizor]

JL was definitely hired for the narrative, that much has become clear

 

[Andy Brennan]

I think they're delusional and think the performance will follow the branding somehow

 

[Purple Jesus]

I think they're delusional and think the performance will follow the branding somehow

The branding is piss weak so perhaps it does?

 

[mattis117]

A dockery performance and a disillusionment thread, an iconic duo.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Both. Just like the 17 other clubs.

It's 2025 and we had a bad game on the weekend. That is all.

 

[Pivot Piece]

Entertainment?

 

[Farrand]

I heard they meet at Denver airport each year. Also, I find the blue mustang with the glowing red eyes in the boardroom to be quite suspicious!

 

[Farrand]

Both. Just like the 17 other clubs.

It's 2025 and we had a bad game on the weekend. That is all.

That would be fair if we weren't staring down the barrel of another year of missing the finals on the last game of the season for what will be the 8th time. I would be happier if we were siting dead last. At least I would have the draft to look forward to.

 

[Ghost Pig]

The kicked dog pessimist in me thinks the farewell games are a high risk indulgence, whether by the club or players (Fyfe/Sonny), we can ill afford, like seriously don't **** with the preparation process, we've been getting it done!

The sentimental, honorable human in me say's if Fyfey and Son Son want to acknowledge/be acknowledged by a full house after everything they've been through then **** the consequences, they deserve it and seriously, if we're going to win a flag then the group are going to have to learn to perform under the weight of expectation.

We can't cheat like other teams as we'll get called for throws and we won't get calls if we start flopping. We're on the way but it only gets tougher from here.

My advice, for this off season, to all the bipolar Freo fans whose moods are swinging harder than a sex swing hanging from a couple of collared eye bolts in the catacombs below a Berlin nightclub on a Monday morning just before the drugs run out, is read a thick book, maybe put some Townes Van Zandt on, make time for an unhealthy vice and join the rest of us in quietly chanting, under laboured breath "Please, just one before I die".

 

[FDH16]

I've become really disillusioned with the club and what they're actually trying to achieve, and I know I'm not alone in this.

Over the past years I've watched it become slowly become more of a corporate brand with a focus on narratives and "engagement", rather than focusing on playing ****ing football (ie that "best things in life are" line which is ****en cringeworthy)

Take this week for example. I have no doubt in my mind that Nat Fyfe was pushed to announce his retirement this week and give his speech to create this narrative around doing it for Fyfes last hurrah and to sell out Optus stadium for our last home game.

Fair enough if it works and the boys fire up and beat the Lions it looks like a genius move, but they didn't, and it now looks like more of a distraction which has left us on the brink of missing finals for a 3rd straight year which could de devastating to the prospects of a future premiership push.

This isn't new to the Freo football club, it seems like they are constantly getting ahead of themselves and pushing narratives, rather than just focusing on playing premiership winning football (remember those tone deaf videos the club released after we were smashed by Geelong in RD 1?)

Keen to get thoughts on this. Is it stupid to suggest that the FFC are fine with the cash coming in and sitting comfortably? Or do you truly believe the club is doing everything it can to grab that first cup?

Hae you watched Caleb Serongs insta reels?

He's a lego nerd who like to show what he's wearing on date night.

Hard to get behind soy boys.

 

[Raz]

Sadly lack of premierships lowers the entertainment

Feels after over 30 yrs we are just here to make up the numbers of teams in the middle of the pack

I hope they prove me wrong

 

[longsuffreosupp]

Maybe the Fyfe announcement was to push some tickets, but it was probably fair to give fans a chance to say goodbye in what should be the last home game of the season.

 

[Stinky Lomax]

I've become really disillusioned with the club and what they're actually trying to achieve, and I know I'm not alone in this.

Over the past years I've watched it become slowly become more of a corporate brand with a focus on narratives and "engagement", rather than focusing on playing ****ing football (ie that "best things in life are" line which is ****en cringeworthy)

Take this week for example. I have no doubt in my mind that Nat Fyfe was pushed to announce his retirement this week and give his speech to create this narrative around doing it for Fyfes last hurrah and to sell out Optus stadium for our last home game.

Fair enough if it works and the boys fire up and beat the Lions it looks like a genius move, but they didn't, and it now looks like more of a distraction which has left us on the brink of missing finals for a 3rd straight year which could de devastating to the prospects of a future premiership push.

This isn't new to the Freo football club, it seems like they are constantly getting ahead of themselves and pushing narratives, rather than just focusing on playing premiership winning football (remember those tone deaf videos the club released after we were smashed by Geelong in RD 1?)

Keen to get thoughts on this. Is it stupid to suggest that the FFC are fine with the cash coming in and sitting comfortably? Or do you truly believe the club is doing everything it can to grab that first cup?

We lost a game of footy, burn the place down & fold the club it’s clearly the only solution.

Do you not think the retirement announcement was possibly 2 fold?

• recognise a great champion of the club in what could be the last time at his home ground & to give as many as possible the chance to do that.
• to inspire his teammates to possibly something great?

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression ‘Dammed if you do & dammed if you don't’?
You should, your post is the definition of it.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Both. Just like the 17 other clubs.

It's 2025 and we had a bad game on the weekend. That is all.

This. What’s the old adage?

You’re never as good as your last win or as bad as you’re last loss.

In the context of the season and what’s at stake a bad loss is ALWAYS going to look and feel much worse than it is. Just like if it were the other way around we’d be all over the main board and social media giving it to other supporters.

Had a good run of wins with the odd loss sprinkled in, will it be enough? Only next weekend can tell. Seasons not over til it’s over. And it most certainly ain’t over yet

 

[daiks]

Hae you watched Caleb Serongs insta reels?

He's a lego nerd who like to show what he's wearing on date night.

Hard to get behind soy boys.

is he a soy boy though? hes playing footy in front of thousands of people whilst you're here trying to bag him on a forum. i appreciate the meme though.

 

[FDH16]

is he a soy boy though? hes playing footy in front of thousands of people whilst you're here trying to bag him on a forum. i appreciate the meme though.

I'd squash Caleb - then I'd cuddle him, give him an X-Wing fighter to put together and whisper what a good boy he is, and so handsome.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

Hae you watched Caleb Serongs insta reels?

He's a lego nerd who like to show what he's wearing on date night.

Hard to get behind soy boys.

This just in: AFL player shows he is a real human being with interests, hobbies, likes going out and likes his missus.

And somehow you turn that it in to a negative and have a crack at him for it?

Get the **** out of here with that outdated toxic masculinity bulshit please and thank you.

 

[s_wd6]

If Fyfe retirement wasn't announced this week then the only other fitting announcement would've been with the cup in his hand.

We also lost the week after Sonny announced his retirement but he managed to get the proper send off at home the next week.