What is Wharfie Time and how did it backfire for heartbroken Dockers?
It was meant to be a celebration of Fremantle's moment in the grand final sun, but their viral Wharfie Time backfired spectacularly on Saturday.
On Saturday night, Fremantle fans erupted in ecstatic celebration after the Dockers secured a thrilling victory in their 31-year quest for a premiership win. The term "Wharfie Time" had become a household name in the AFL world following its viral success during the 2026 season. The celebration, involving a dimming stadium lights, a purple glow, and the tolling of ACDC's "Hells Bells" bells, had become a symbol of the team's intense determination to see out close games.
The phrase itself originated from former Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich's pre-match pep talk in 2009, which referred to the club's dock workers and mascot. After Fremantle's Patrick Voss kicked a game-winning goal with just 4 minutes and 18 seconds remaining, the iconic bells rang out, igniting an electrifying atmosphere among the fans.
However, the moment quickly turned tragic as the Lions' coach, Leigh Matthews, revealed that the Dockers had intentionally utilized the Wharfie Time celebration to energize the Lions' team. The unexpected turn of events left the Dockers heartbroken, forever tarnishing the once-celebrated moment in AFL history.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
