Fremantle Dockers fans are expected to deliver a major boost to the city’s pubs and Western Australian butchers as about 40,000 supporters descend on Fremantle for Saturday’s game.
Gage Roads at the A-Shed overlooking the working port is preparing for one of its busiest trading days, forecasting sales of 7,000 pints, 1,500 pizzas and 1,200 serves of chips – equivalent to about half a tonne.
The venue expects to pour 2,000 pints of its Purple Reign beer, brewed especially for the finals. Miles Hull, head of hospitality at owner Good Drinks Australia, said the result could directly affect the bar’s takings.
“If it’s a nail-biter, no one wants to leave their seat or take their eyes off the game and people are caught up in the moment of the game and so it goes quiet at the bar,” he said.
Hull said sales had reflected the action during Fremantle’s elimination final against Geelong, with supporters making more trips to the bar while their side was trailing before returning their attention to the match in the final quarter.
Police, the City of Fremantle and the state government are preparing for large crowds, with road closures planned in the central business district and four large screens being installed. A separate event at South Fremantle Oval, regarded as the Dockers’ spiritual home, has also sold out.
Karl Bullers, owner of the Old Court House and the National Hotel, said he was expecting Saturday’s sales to be three times higher than normal.
“People are just starting to realise just how big this is going to be, so we are over-ordering on everything because the last thing we want to be doing is run out of anything,” he said.
An event at the National Hotel sold out immediately, while the pubs have received calls from customers asking whether they could arrive at 5.30am to secure places in front of the screens.
Fremantle Dockers fans drive purple sausage sales
Supporters unable to travel to Melbourne, or seeking to avoid Fremantle’s crowds, are expected to watch the game at home, with butchers across the state reporting increased demand for purple-themed sausages.
Tony Scarfo of Scarfos Meating Place in Myaree has revived the purple sausages that helped make his business known during Fremantle’s first grand final appearance in 2013. He expects to sell up to half a tonne by Saturday afternoon.
“Over a week, you could push probably 400 to 500 kilos of actual purple ones,” Scarfo said.
The sausages are made by dipping barbecue beef sausages in purple food colouring and water. Scarfo expects his trade to be about 30 per cent higher than in a normal week.
At Willetton Butcher, owner Nick Thomson is forecasting a 20 per cent rise in sales. Although Thomson supports Essendon, most of his staff follow Fremantle and have created a purple and white chicken and cheese sausage.
Regional butcher shops are also experiencing a finals rush. Plantagenet Meats owner Josh Liebeck said his business had previously struggled to get the colour right, leaving the sausages green, but now expects sales to double from Thursday to Saturday.
“It’s been a character building 32 years. Hopefully, we can come away with a win,” Liebeck said.
