How the rise of the ‘Flagmantle’ Dockers can give hope to other success-starved clubs

June 19, 2026 — 2:15pm

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There is nowhere to hide these days against Fremantle. They might even finally be on their way to legitimising the fan-led “Flagmantle” moniker.

Justin Longmuir’s Dockers are on a 13-match winning streak after rallying from a 28-point deficit to beat perennial contenders Geelong on Thursday night and avenge their sole defeat from round one at the Cattery.

They are skilful, stuffed with star power, eminently watchable, and clear premiership favourites.

Fremantle are a game ahead of second-placed Sydney, who are guaranteed to have at least a two-win buffer over the next-best side by the end of this round, so there is a good chance the premiership cup will be in non-Victorian hands for a third year in a row.

The Dockers have never won a flag in their 31-year history, going the closest under then-coach Ross Lyon in 2013, when they became the first of Hawthorn’s grand final victims in their famous premiership three-peat.

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