We all attach meanings to things. That's how representations work. We're positioned to respond in particular ways, but we also bring our own values and attitudes with us to the reading of any 'text', as such. There was never any universal signified for what the logo or the anchor represented, but there was an agreed consensus from the FFC community of sign users that it represented particular things, and some of us invested heavily and personally into what it signified to us.

Kids make a lot of crap in their early childhood education years. Some of it you are forced to discreetly place in the big, green, 'filing cabinet with wheels' outside. But I always kept the things that were crudely but deliberately made with purple, green, red and white paint, or with lovingly misshapen anchors. And so I'll get a bit worked up, too, when someone wishes to say that those things are no longer meaningful.

The German people are still apologising for following their leaders without thinking too much about it. The supporters of the OOFTITS are still pointing at their silverware case and claiming they were right.

Giumelz, I do understand that arguement, and as I said, for some people it is all about winning premierships. I'm wary of sinking into the murky depths of moral relativism, but maybe everyone is entitled to their opinion as to how important that is.


I would argue that there are certain things you don't do to further that aim. Some we all agree on: like not cheating or using steroids to gain an unfair advantage. Others we don't. I think giving up the jumper and colours to make a few bucks is something you should never do, even if it gets your team marginally closer to a premiership.

To those offering to harden me up, I'd just have to shake my head sadly. It isn't and will never be required.

To those suggesting I need perspective, I have it. I know there is bad stuff that people deal with every day. Last week my grandfather was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, that's bloody bad. He is a good Sowfs man, I signed him up as a Foundation member for Fremantle in 1995, and we will lose a great supporter of this club soon. I'm not banging away on the internet for the hell of it, or to be contrary, its because symbolism matters, and we just had it reinforced that our club is not better than the rest. Wrongly, I believed we were. Like Morgan, I can't believe that the hardcore Fremantle supporter could read this any other way.

To those suggesting clubs make professional decisions about their football club, I agree. Footballing staff appointments, player decisions, drafting and trading are only the realms of supporter interest and speculation, and should never be anything more. Any club will get some of that stuff right, and some wrong. We are getting a lot of that stuff right at the moment.

But more importantly, I don't believe we just sit here and cop it and move on. That's a little bit theatre-goer for me. Intuitively I have drawn a line in the sand here, and even if this doesn't change the outcome one iota, I hope the next time the faceless marketing steves come for your football club, they ask politely.

Giumelz, if I agreed with you I'd still be shaking my head that the club actually believes that the chevron gear is more likely to inspire a purchase than anchor-adorned attire...

When push comes to shove the product in question is worse than the Purple Haze gear, which would have most likely been a warmly recieved change, or at least a change people thought was worth a punt.

And the logo is still poor.

I didn't realise the fate of the club and a premiership weighed literally on the backs of punters with a new jersey on.

When Freo is already one of the most profitable teams in the comp to begin with...

Blocker, I'm sorry to hear of your grandfather's illness mate. That's terrible news.

Have to say, the thought of anyone telling you to harden up made me laugh though... jesus.

Can I just point out that-

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUCK IT UP.

1 everyones allowed their own opinions
2 we're allowed to disagree
3 we don't have to forgive and forget in the space of a week!
4 we ARE NOT BLIND SHEEP!
AND they announced it on my bday, what a bummer way to remember the day!And I didn't get my birthday card signed by pav! Haha .

What i think a lot of us are upset about is that we tended to think that we had an ability to affect our club, however minuscule.

And we don't bloody like it! We don't have to like it!

Our mob will make money whatever kit they put out for sale - so thats no argument. And I'm not a dog about to roll over. How or why people have that attitude is beyond me. If you like the new look - thats fine by me. But I don't.

In marketing terms, the people our Executive have upset are those who have already completed the "buy-in". This group (and count me as one) looked at our colours, our jumper and our symbolic anchor and chose to love them.

We committed.
We bought the concept the Club offered.
We bristled and defended our colours and jumper against those who ridiculed them.

Now, in effect, we are being told that we were idiots. Our colours weren't significant. Our playing strip wasn't loveable. Those who have committed to and loved our Club through the deepest of lows are being disenfranchised.

I don't dislike the new strip and I don't dislike the new logo. But I hate the fact that our Executive are treating us with disdain.

All the best big Blocker, to you and your pop.