Justin Chadwick July 15, 2026 – 5:05 p.m. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. TOTOTO Caleb Serong has branded Fremantle a special place as the Dockers close in on the second minor premiership in the club’s history. The Dockers further cemented their
Justin Chadwick
Caleb Serong has branded Fremantle a special place as the Dockers close in on the second minor premiership in the club’s history.
The Dockers further cemented their status as top-place favorites last week after overcoming a goalless first half to crush second-placed Sydney by 38 points at a sold-out Optus Stadium.
The result lifted Fremantle (15-2) two wins clear at the top of the standings and three and a half wins clear of third place, meaning just three more wins from the remaining six games will guarantee the Dockers a prized top-two spot.
Fremantle’s only minor premiership came in 2015, when they finished with a 17-5 record.
With games against Port Adelaide (away), West Coast, Western Bulldogs (home), Melbourne (away), Adelaide (home) and Carlton (away) coming up, Fremantle are expected to break that 17-win mark.
The Dockers’ hopes of victory against Port Adelaide on Saturday received a huge boost when Zak Butters (ankle), Mitch Georgiades (concussion), Jason Horne-Francis (suspension) and Jack Lukosius (knee) were ruled out of the game.
The ‘Flagmantle’ craze among Dockers fans is officially in full swing, with many fans already booking their flights and accommodation for the grand final.
Full crowds at Fremantle games are becoming commonplace and the Dockers recently hit the $4 million mark in money raised for their Starlight Children’s Foundation charity.
Everything seems to be going well in Fremantle and Serong loves the team atmosphere.
“It’s a great group of guys,” Serong said.
“It’s like we walk in and it doesn’t feel like work. You walk in and you’re just hanging out with some of your best friends and that’s what I mean when you talk about celebrating each other.
“It’s not about 42 individuals coming in and trying to get better. It’s 42 guys trying to move together as a collective and celebrate each other for what they do, first and foremost as humans and then as footballers.
“We are very close friends and it is a special place to be.”
That camaraderie and selflessness transfers to the midfield group.
Serong and Andrew Brayshaw are known as the workhorses, and the pair are often targets of opposition punchers.
That leaves players like Shai Bolton, Murphy Reid and Hayden Young to punish teams on the outside, while allowing lesser lights like Matthew Johnson and Neil Erasmus to flourish.
“We all know our roles. Like I can’t do what Murphy does and what Bolts does, and potentially they can’t do what Andy and I can do on the other side of the ball,” Serong said.
“We know it, we accept it and we celebrate each other.
“We celebrate our teammates like it’s our own success and that’s what makes this group special. It’s a lot of fun.”
AAP
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