Why Dockers fans are putting tape on their team’s guernseys

Fremantle MP Josh Wilson is the latest Dockers fan to jump on a protest against oil and gas giant Woodside’s sponsorship of the club ahead of this weekend’s grand final match.

The federal Labor MP, who was taken to the wire by an independent campaign at the last election, was pictured wearing a Dockers guernsey with the Woodside logo covered up in a widely circulated social media post.

In a statement, Wilson said the picture in question was a family photo, and “when I wear my Dockers gear I just want to show my support for Freo”.

“This week is all about the opportunity to see the Dockers compete on the last Saturday in September, but it’s great that Australia is a place where people have the freedom to express their view and values through a range of creative and peaceful campaigns,” he said.

The move could put Wilson at odds with his Labor colleagues, both federal and state, who have approved a major extension to Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project, and have been open about their support for gas to play a big role as the nation moves away from coal-fired power.

It echoes a similar protest by the Dockers’ No.1 ticketholder, Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker, whose love for his hometown team has been on full display as the band tours the United States.

Parker was pictured during a concert at Ball Arena in Denver wearing a Dockers top – again, with the Woodside logo covered over by tape.

The protests form part of a growing campaign that has reignited calls for the club to drop Woodside’s sponsorship, following in the footsteps of a similar push in 2023, before the Dockers inked another two-year sponsorship deal the following year.

The Get Off My Chest campaign has also sprayed over the Woodside logo on a mural of players Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe that adorns the wall of the Fremantle Markets tourist hotspot.

And, with the help of a projector last week, the activists broadcast another message below the giant “Wharfie Time” banner hanging from Woodside’s Perth headquarters, adding “for a gas tax” to the side of the building.

For its part, Woodside has shown no intent to back down from its long-running sponsorship of the team, despite the pressure.

“We love our partnership of more than 15 years with the Fremantle Football Club and it’s great to see the success the club is having this year,” a spokesperson said when asked about Wilson’s photo.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our work together.”

Still, if fans flocking to the port city on Saturday are desperate for a reprieve from the oil and gas giant’s advertising, they may find solace in the (mostly) environmentally conscious local council’s policies.

The City of Fremantle adopted a policy last year that “does not support advertising of or by companies involved in the production or supply of fossil fuels owned or managed by the City”.

“The City of Fremantle does not support advertising which specifically promotes fossil fuels on property owned or managed by the City,” the policy states.

There is a caveat that fossil fuel ads may be displayed during or to promote an event as part of a sponsorship agreement, but it must not be displayed more than 48 before the event, and must be removed within 48 hours of the event’s conclusion.

It’s worth noting that Fremantle Oval, in the heart of the CBD, where thousands of Dockers fans will converge on Saturday, is owned by the local council.

“The City of Fremantle is firmly focused on delivering a great Grand Final day experience for Dockers fans this Saturday,” a City of Fremantle spokesperson said.

“The City of Fremantle does not support advertising of or by companies involved in production or supply of fossil fuels on property owned or managed by the City and will not accept sponsorship funding from companies involved in production or supply of fossil fuels.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.