Fagan’s two-word Wharfie Time take to haunt Freo forever
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan believes Fremantle would “regret” pulling the trigger on Wharfie Time in the final moments of Saturday’s grand final.
After a Patrick Voss goal put the Dockers 17 points up with four minutes to play, the club activated the hype button designed to energise their fans during home games.
Fremantle looked home for all money... AFL Photos
They generally only use it late in tight games when they feel their team needs a boost and, up to the grand final, it had only been played in wins, including the semi-final clash with Geelong.
However, the grand final usage was different. The team didn't necessarily need a boost, given they had full control. Instead, it felt more celebratory. As if they thought the game was over.
Fremantle was only able to use it because the AFL changed their mind during the week, after initially denying the request.
But in the end, Wharfie Time backfired. Multiple Brisbane players have said the alarm was the spark they needed to flip the grand final on its head.
The Lions kicked four goals unanswered to win the grand final and break Freo hearts, but it all started with Wharfie Time.
When asked if the Lions had planned to use it as their own personal motivational tool, Fagan said they had discussed it during the week, adding that the Dockers “probably regretted” pushing the button.
"Yeah, that is right," Fagan told Nine's Today.
“When we played Freo earlier in the year, they didn’t use Wharfie Time, and we weren’t familiar with it. So in the meeting on Friday I made the players familiar with what it sounded like and what the significance of it is to the Freo players and fans.
"We talked about what we could do if they play that to turn it on them and the players decided that if it plays, that would an indication to us that we need to get going.
"As it turned out, that's exactly what happened. You never know that these kinds of things are going to occur, but it worked out that way.
"They're probably regretting Wharfie Time at the moment, but these are things you need to do in sport."
It will be hard for Fremantle to ever go back to using the hype button in close games, given it will now be associated with the crushing grand final loss.
Chris Fagan dumps Gatorade on Darcy Wilmot after the grand final. AFL Photos
Fagan meanwhile is enjoying becoming a three-time premiership coach, saying he will spend the week revelling in what the team has accomplished.
"It's sunk in. Feeling really happy about what has occurred. It's an amazing feat to win three in a row," Fagan said.
"Everyone is out to get you after you win one, let alone three, and to be able to produce that effort on the weekend was really exciting.
"We didn't do it the easy way. We looked like we were going to lose that game and then we found some energy at the end and got an unlikely victory.
“I was stunned that we won. Seventeen points down with four minutes left, I thought it would be a bridge too far for us.”
