Fremantle, in the eight for most of the season, cling to eighth spot this week but will certainly lose it should they fail to win in round 22, after the West Coast Eagles defeated them by 48 points on the weekend. It seems like shades of 1997, where Fremantle needed to win just one of its last 3 games to make the eight for the first time, failing on each occasion. This included a loss to then bottom placed Melbourne in the final round of that season. This time around, it is a much tougher ask, to beat the imposing Saints on a ground which they are yet to lose on this year.

The scene was set last Sunday when a tired Dockers limped home a distant second to an Eagles team which contrary to recent seasons, appears fresher and more vibrant than they did at the start of the season. The Dockers were outplayed all over the ground, as the Eagles appeared to operate as a unit driven to succeed, and thirsty for September action. The Dockers in stark contrast, had a few battlers who tried to stem the flow, and a listless effort from the rest. McManus, Bell and Haddrill all put in exemplary efforts against the fierce rivals, and set fine examples for the other teammates.

What was of real concern for the Dockers, was that the team seemed not to relish the challenge of the Western Derby, of a fierce contest. If the Derby cannot fire them up to have a 100 % dip, then it is hard to imagine them doing so against the Saints. Indeed, whenever the 'soft' tag has been fired at the Dockers, they haven't performed to suggest that these calls are incorrect. One would hope that the prospect of missing finals again after last year would prove a galling enough prospect that they bust their balls and fight to the end against St. Kilda this weekend.

It is hard to believe another season has passed us by already, Docker fans will no longer get to see their team live until next year. And as much as one can hope against hope, the way the Dockers looked - tired, battle weary, and ready for a break - chances are that our season will end as soon as this weekend. If the Dockers lose, to stay in the eight, both the Bombers and the Kangaroos have to lose their games, and given that the Bombers play the lowly Bulldogs who would lose a priority bonus pick should they win, this is not likely to happen. A sunnier prospect is the one where both the Dockers and Bombers win, the Eagles lose to Melbourne and all of a sudden the Eagles are the ones to miss out on the Finals. Oh how that would be sweet. And it is both the lot in life and right of a Dockers fan to dream.....

C'MON BOYS, ONE MORE DIP FOR ALL OF US!!!

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