Jordan Clark is loving Fremantle Dockers’ decision to use 1983 America’s Cup win as premiership inspiration Craig O’DonoghueThe West AustralianMon, 1 September 2025 5:01PMCommentsCommentsEmail Craig O’Donoghue
The famous winged keel of Australia II and the significance of bringing the America’s Cup to Fremantle in 1983 is being used as inspiration for the Dockers as they chase their first AFL premiership.
Coach Justin Longmuir was only two-years-old when Australia ended 132 years of US domination, and none of his players were even born, but they all visited the WA Maritime Museum last week to visit Australia II and add another chapter to the story they have followed all year.
Assistant coach Jaymie Graham watched a documentary about the 1983 America’s Cup and felt drawn to the idea of being part of a campaign that would bring a famous trophy to Fremantle. The Dockers have never won an AFL premiership and the team has used the stunning victory by skipper John Bertrand, designer Ben Lexcen, WA entrepreneur Alan Bond and a brilliant crew as inspiration to achieve the ultimate.
“It’s been what we’ve related to all year,” defender Jordan Clark said.
“We’ve drawn some similarities with that. Hopefully we can do the same thing. It’s pretty much the first bit of silverware that was brought back to Freo and (we know) how big that was for the Freo community.
“Seeing how proud the community are of something and what it means to them, it gives me a glimmer of what our club and what we achieve can means for our Freo public as well. It’s pretty special to be able to represent them through playing football.
“I didn’t know anything about it until the start of this year and the pre-season. It was a long time before I was born. It’s a pretty cool thing that was achieved by those blokes.”
Fremantle will play against Gold Coast in an elimination final at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, hoping to enjoy their first finals win since 2022. Their ultimate aim is to play at the MCG on September 27 which is ironic given it was on that exact date, Australian time, that the nation watched the historic victory in America.
AFL teams have consistently used external themes as premiership inspiration. Brisbane’s 2024 premiership win followed a Ted Lasso theme.
Clark said the players loved the way the coaches had used the America’s Cup win to drive them this year.
“It’s always nice learning something new. i think it’s pretty special. It’s a feel-good story,” he said.
“Those guys would have dreamed of that ever since they were little kids, much like footballers dream of winning a premiership. It is achievable. It’s not impossible. that gives us hope. They were down 3-1 and first to four wins the series. They came back and won 4-3. You are never truly down and out if you believe so.”
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