Fagan’s two-word take down after grand final stunner
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan claims that Fremantle's use of their 'Wharfie Time' hype ritual during the AFL grand final backfired and motivated his team to a comeback victory. Fagan noted that the Lions had specifically prepared for the ritual during their pre-game meetings.
Why it matters
This highlights the psychological aspects of professional sports and how team rituals can inadvertently provide motivation to opponents.
Sport AFL AFL Fagan’s two-word Wharfie Time take to haunt Freo forever Nic Negrepontis Updated September 28, 2026 - 1.52am . First published at 12.28am
shares Share article 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.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in