FREMANTLE players will often joke among themselves about having a 'great story', a tale of persistence that now makes their presence in the Grand Final all the more remarkable.
Michael Barlow rightly leads the way with the banter, but there are Dockers who have taken the hard road everywhere you look in their 22 for Saturday's decider.
Ryan Crowley was delisted in 2005 and given a reprieve on the rookie list, with Paul Duffield, Aaron Sandilands, Lee Spurr and Matt de Boer also getting their starts as rookies.
Delisted by Hawthorn, Zac Dawson relaunched as a rookie with St Kilda and made his way to Fremantle via the pre-season draft, while Hayden Ballantyne was recruited as a 21-year-old after proving himself in the WAFL.
Barlow would be the popular tip for 'best story' among the hard road Dockers, having started his career as a mature-age rookie and suffering a broken leg in his first season.
Tendai Mzungu, who was pre-listed by Gold Coast as a 24-year-old and traded to Fremantle in 2010, took inspiration from Barlow's incredible start to his career.
Mzungu said the Dockers who had taken a different path to the AFL had learned to appreciate the opportunities they'd been given.
"You can look at everyone and they've got a different story to tell and challenges along the way," he told AFL.com.au.
"It's a great environment to be a part of, because you know everyone's hungry and desperate to achieve.
"It's something we all value and I think it's great there's a different blend.
"It shows other people as well that you don't have to be a first-round draft pick to succeed at AFL level."
Reflecting on his journey to Fremantle this week, Mzungu said he had been happy studying, working and grafting a WAFL career with the Perth Demons, but "there was that emptiness with all that I wanted to achieve with footy".
As well as Barlow, former Fremantle teammate Greg Broughton provided the inspiration he needed to keep his AFL dream alive.
"I thought we were similar players at WAFL level, and Mick Barlow was someone who I certainly looked to," he said.
"I still took great pride in my performance anyway, but I wanted to play AFL football and I saw the possibility there for me to do that.
"Now that I've got an opportunity to play in an AFL Grand Final, it's certainly something I really want to cherish and deliver on."
Barlow agreed there were great stories scattered through Fremantle's list with former rookies outnumbering top-end draft picks in the Grand Final 22.
"I think that's a really strong aspect of the group and our desire to play together and play for each other," he said.
"My journey wouldn't have been possible without them, not only the 21 I get to play with this Saturday, but the whole collective of the football club.
"I couldn't be prouder to be associated with it."
