After The Game With Snaps Truly - Rd 9 2026 V Hawthorn

Wharfie Time is real!

All week there’d been a weird vibe.

Not sure if you noticed it. I sensed it on the Freo Massive social media page. Usually home to requests for a good plumber or anyone who might know the whereabouts of a stolen bike.

But this week it was full of talk about chem trails. And photographic evidence apparently, of white condensation streaks across beautiful blue skies that had nothing at all to do with departing aeroplanes but everything to do with a covert conspiracy of imminent mind control.

Well, let me tell you wild-eyed wearers of the tin foil hat, there is only room for one bat-shit crazy, mind-bending phenomenon in Freo.

And it’s Wharfie Time.

And its bloody real.

We’d just watched Alex Pearce stream forward but miss with his handball. The intercept rebounded quickly to Jack Gunston who slotted home his sixth to give Hawthorn a seemingly match winning 19-point lead with just eleven and a half minutes to play.

Those minutes ticked on.

Freo had kicked points from gettable shots all night. Josh Treacy had missed some straight ones, but this time he took the handball from Voss and slammed home a checkside. Back to 11 points with less than eight to play.

Luke Jackson was everywhere now – winning taps – taking big marks and willing the ball and his teammates forward with irresistible determination. He found Voss, who released Michael Frederick and he goaled brilliantly.

Four minutes to go. Freo just four points behind.

And then we heard the tolling of the bells.

Forbidding, foreboding.

And for whom did they toll? Us.

Obviously.

Bong. Bong. Bong. (That’s what bells sound like for those for who have never heard them.)

And suddenly, the giant screens shook and fizzed and popped with the emblazoned words.

‘Wharfie Time’.

Wharfie Time?

Yes, I just told you, Wharfie Time.

It’s what happens when 54 thousand people realise that the Dockers have just kicked the goal that might bring them back into this. It is a switch that is flicked in the brains of Freo fans and players that cause us to erupt as one. An instruction. A demand.

A mania. A sudden furious hope burning in the hearts and minds of the young and old.

An irresistible explosion of emotion and belief that brings us to our feet to wave scarves and shout incoherently and spill beer on each other and say, ‘No worries mate.’

It is confirmation. That now is the time.

Let’s get this done.

And just like that – Jackson wins a huge clearance, the ball finds its way to Amiss who snaps on his left to give Freo the lead.

Just like that.

Jackson then threw himself into a brilliant smother and the ball came free again – Amiss tapped cleverly and here was Freddy again – so cool and crisp and confident and the lead is eight points.

Treacy goes behind the ball as Freo surge again – Freddy distributing and Young earning a chop of the arm free kick.

He goals. Freo have kicked five in a row. The match is won.

Wharfie Time.

Ominous.

Enormous.

Hilarious.

And it’s origins? A Matt Pavlich thought bubble? A Maritime Union implant?

Who knows. Who cares.

What I do know is that the AFL has applied to trademark ‘Wharfie Time’ as their own. Let’s tell them to get stuffed. Whatever it is, it’s ours and it’s not for sale.

What a night. What an achievement.

Coming in, there were a lot of questions. Could we win our third game in 18 days – three games separated by a six-day break. Were we exhausted? Was there anything left in the tank?

And was Hawthorn the side to expose that with its team full of cheeky Jack the Lads?

For a while the answer seemed like yes. Jack Gunston leading the despairing Luke Ryan on a merry dance and Nick Watson dancing with dangerous intent as the Hawthorn midfield chopped Freo up with their superior ball distribution.

A close and entertaining first quarter became a 15-point advantage to the Hawks at the long break. After which Freo tightened up at the back and did everything right but kick the goals they deserved.

Heading for home the crowd knew we just need to get some reward for effort.

Surely.

Bong.

Incredible scenes – one of our best wins in years – as Freo go top again and can now enjoy a ten-day break before playing Essendon in Melbourne.

As I ponder the enormity of it all, I pause just for a moment to stare out the window. It’s going to be another beautiful day. And I know for sure, that’s not a bloody chem trail shooting across the sky, it’s Wharfie Time disappearing into the wide blue yonder until we need to call upon it again.

Or it calls upon us.

Yours Truly,

Snaps Truly

*By our multi-talented and amazingly insightful footy scribe, SNAPS TRULY. Snaps has seen and done it all. He may or may not have been a fringe player at Fremantle. Don’t miss Snaps’ report after each Freo Dockers match here on the Shipping News throughout the 2026 season.

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