THE STREETS of Fremantle were paved with purple as an estimated 6000 fans marched through them on their way to the Dockers' open training session on Tuesday.

It wasn't quite the 15,000 fans coach Ross Lyon confidently predicted in his press conference on Monday but it was still a sizeable crowd.

Incredibly, the famous Fremantle cappuccino strip of South Terrace that was a sea of purple chaos on Saturday night after the club's preliminary final win was barren, a ghost-town during the first half hour of Tuesday's training session.

Fremantle Oval, the spiritual home of Freo, framed by the infamous jail, was ringed with Dockers fans.

Supporters had either wagged work or school to brave leaden skies and blustery winds to support their club in the lead-up to the club's first Grand Final.

Fremantle rock-band Eskimo Joe, long-time Dockers fans, entertained the crowd before the players started training. The Scotch College marching band was also there.

Mr Whippy was selling ice-cream to kids at 10am, local radio stations hosted their breakfast shows boundary-side and the merchandise store had to open a second stall to cope with the roaring trade it has been doing since early Sunday morning.

The players received loud cheers as they went through their simple run-throughs.





Fruiterer Carlo Noto shows his allegiance. Picture: AFL Media

Josh Mellington, with only one game this season and six in his career, fresh from a WAFL premiership with West Perth, got a standing ovation as he ran laps around the boundary.

Purple fever has captured the imagination of the town in the last two weeks. Local butchers are selling purple sausages and a local brewery was brewing purple beer.

Even The West Australian newspaper has run a purple masthead throughout the finals series, and had the Dockers on front and back pages for days. Local television and radio stations have been running promos supporting the team all week.

Thousands of Fremantle fans will make the journey to the MCG on Saturday, sparing no expense to see their team.





Fremantle fans aboard the 'MCG Express'. Picture: AFL Media 

More than 15,000 fans are expected to make the trip via planes, trains and buses - and some will drive.

Close to 4000 Fremantle members who entered the ballot for a ticket to the Grand Final missed out. Only 7000 Harbour Master members were guaranteed a seat at the Grand Final, and almost 11,000 members went in the ballot for the remaining 7000 seats available.  

One 10-year member confidently booked his flights to Melbourne after the qualifying final win over Geelong but missed out in the ballot.

His flights cost $1200 and he forked over another four-figure sum to purchase a corporate package to ensure he will be at the MCG on Saturday.

Another member paid $1200 for a one-way flight to Melbourne on Monday. A 10-year member, who just took up a work post in Dubai, flew back for the preliminary final win on Saturday night but could not manage to do the same for the Grand Final.

Hope springs eternal for Dockers fans, but for now they are happily enjoying the ride.