MITCHELL JOHNSON: Fremantle Dockers deserve their finals spot and now have the chance to do something special

Fremantle’s top-six finish has lit up the west, and rightly so.

It’s a big achievement in a tight AFL competition, and it puts them in a position that every club wants to be in come September: alive, with a real chance.

Listening to the radio last week, I heard a poll asking whether fans were confident the Dockers could win in the finals or whether they were keeping their hopes closer to their hearts.

That’s the fascinating part of sport — how much weight supporters put on belief, nerves, and superstition. That’s part of being a fan.

But here’s the truth: whatever fans feel in their hearts, players can’t let that affect them in the middle.

Fremantle’s playing group will be confident without being overconfident ahead of their elimination final against Gold Coast.

They’ve played the type of football that earns you a top-six finish.

They’ve had their moments of stumble, sure — only a few weeks ago, that loss to Brisbane had alarm bells ringing from the outside looking in. But over the course of the season, they’ve done more right than wrong, and players know that.

Confidence in finals isn’t about false bravado, although it can help when added with knowing your system works, trusting teammates, and not adding unnecessary weight to the moment.

Fans sometimes think declaring confidence will jinx the team or that doubt will seep into the group. The reality is, the players are professionals.

They want the support, the noise, the colours in the stands. But they don’t need any extra pressure piled on top. Finals footy is pressure enough.

I know that feeling well. In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, playing at home in Australia, we spoke about exactly this issue. The pressure was already enormous. A World Cup, on home soil, expectation everywhere.

The one thing we didn’t do was heap more of it onto ourselves. We kept things simple: enjoy the moment, train and play hard, celebrate wins, and trust our game plan.

Confidence came from preparation, not hype. And when the crowds turned up in towns and cities across Australia, we soaked it up. We didn’t let it suffocate us.

Fremantle now have that same chance. It doesn’t matter who they face in the finals — the oval is the same size, the ball bounces the same, the goals don’t move. It’s another game of footy.

Finals can feel bigger, scarier, but they’re not. They’re still just games of football, and the Dockers’ best chance comes from treating them that way. Play their game, stick to their brand, enjoy it with teammates, and soak up the atmosphere.

What makes this chance even more exciting is that Fremantle are the only West Australian side in the finals this year. That naturally brings an extra layer of pride for the sandgropers.

Hearing that they’re drawing extra support to knock over Eastern States teams is brilliant — West Aussies love a chance to band together when one of our own is carrying the flag.

But it’s also a reminder to the West Coast Eagles. Rivalry aside, there’s no escaping the sting of watching your neighbours playing finals while you’re not.

I know what that hurt feels like in elite sport. It eats at you. But it should also drive you. This should be motivation for West Coast to get back to the standards they’ve set in the past.

Fremantle have shown what resilience and belief can do when aligned with good planning and consistent football. That’s what finals sides are built on.

For the Eagles, the re-signing of Harley Reid is more than just a contract; it’s a statement of intent. Reid has shown his commitment to the club and the challenge ahead, and hopefully that drags others with him.

That mindset can become contagious, and with the right draft picks and development, the Eagles can look at the Dockers not just as rivals, but as a blueprint for how to climb back.

For Fremantle, though, this September is their chance. They don’t need to carry the burden of WA’s hopes on their shoulders. They don’t need to listen to polls or predictions. What matters is what happens on the field, how they respond in big moments, and whether they keep playing their game.

Fans will always ride the emotional rollercoaster. That’s what fandom is about. But players live in the practical reality of sport: train hard, trust your preparation, perform when it counts.

Fremantle’s season has earned them the right to play finals, and now they’ve got the chance to do something bigger.

If they can approach it with confidence, not fear, and embrace the fun of it all — the noise, the rivalry, the belief — then the Dockers can make this September one to remember. And if that happens, the poll results on the radio won’t matter one bit.