Fremantle will run out as Walyalup Football Club in the AFL and AFLW Indigenous rounds in 2023, adopting the Noongar name for the Country the club calls home.
The Dockers become the second club to adopt traditional place names for the series of matches celebrating First Nations people and contributions to the game following Melbourne's historic shift to Naarm in 2022.
The club made the announcement at their season launch on Wednesday after two years of development and work by the club's RAP Working and Advisory Groups.
In a first for the competition, Freo unveiled a new emblem designed by past player, academy coach and Indigenous and multicultural liaison officer Roger Hayden to don throughout the period, a privilege and initiate he is "proud" to see.
"I'm really proud of Fremantle's history, we've always had a strong culture of representing Indigenous players and who we are as a Club and I think this continues with what we're doing now to rebrand as the Walyalup Football Club," Hayden said.
"It's about sharing our culture to the wider community, it's fantastic and I'm really looking forward to seeing this unfold throughout the year and how it goes in the future."
Proud to announce we will be known as the Walyalup Football Club for future games played during Sir Doug Nicholls and AFLW Indigenous Rounds. #KalyakoorlWalyalup
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) February 21, 2023
Fittingly, the Dockers face Demons at the MCG in the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls round on May 27.
"I am really proud to stand up here today and announce that an idea first raised at board level two years ago will finally come to fruition this year in Sir Doug Nicholls Round when our football Club will be referred to as the Walyalup Football Club," Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick said.
"It will take over all of our channels in those weeks and our coaches will proudly wear the Walyalup Polos for these games.
"I want to thank Roger for his work creating the logo as well as a special thank you to our RAP External Advisory Group who have provided valuable guidance along the way."
Walyalup will debut the move against Geelong at Optus Stadium in round 10 of the men's season.
