Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Fremantle Dockers on an outstanding 2014 AFL season.

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you.

Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to acknowledge President Steve Harris and our CEO Steve Rosich for their leadership. To me it all seems that their season was cut prematurely short because of the number of serious injuries and a determined Port Adelaide. I would also like to bring to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the West Coast Eagles No. 1 supporter, just how much further up the ladder the Dockers were at the end of the 2014 season—top four as opposed to the Eagles unable to make it to the top eight.

Congratulations to Nat Fyfe who was awarded the AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player for the 2014 season. This is a high honour and well-deserved by Matt who has a bright future ahead of him. Equally to Pav and the team of the senior players, I want to thank you for a great season of sportsmanship. I was heartened to hear coach Ross Lyon promised a growing number of Fremantle fans that 'the Dockers will rise again in 2015'. Ross and the coaching team led them well and will no doubt return with a renewed sense of purpose for the team next season. I take this opportunity to also commend the Fremantle fans. The Purple Haze game played in March this year raised over $150,000 for the Starlight Foundation.

On a personal note, I appreciate the tenacity, the unity and the fair play of the Dockers during the season. They have provided a wealth of entertainment and excitement for AFL followers all over Australia and especially for their devoted and passionate fans. I look forward with great expectations to their rise again in 2015. (Time expired)

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I might point out—and other members would want me to do this—that the West Coast Eagles have won three premierships and the Dockers have won none.