Fremantle might be experiencing the year from hell on the field but its supporters are showing incredible loyalty off it.
Despite sitting in 14th place with just two wins from 14 games and being in contention for their first wooden spoon since 2001, the Dockers have posted a record membership tally for the sixth consecutive season.
With the cut-off for signing members this season now over, the Dockers have finished with a staggering 43,366 members - marginally up on last year's figure of 43,343.
The club's continued rise in membership comes despite the team having gone from beaten preliminary finalists in 2006 to wooden spoon contenders this season and comes despite a series of heartbreaking losses with the Dockers having lost eight games this season by three goals or less.
And between Rounds 6 and 10 this season Fremantle became the first club ever to lose five successive games after leading at three-quarter-time.
Fremantle president Rick Hart said the club's record membership figures showed the club's loyal fans - who have seen just two finals appearances and one finals victory since the Dockers joined the competition in 1995 - were right behind embattled coach Mark Harvey, who has come under increasing media scrutiny for the club's below-par performances this year in his first full season in charge.
"Mark has made it clear what direction he wants to take the club in and that has already born fruit this season with the emergence of a string of good young players," Hart said.
"I believe players such as NAB Rising Star nominees Rhys Palmer and Garrick Ibbotson plus the likes of Chris Mayne and Robbie Warnock have given our supporters reason to have great faith in Fremantle's future."
Indeed exciting midfielder Palmer is the favourite to win this year's AFL Rising Star Award - the game's most prestigious award for young players.
Hart said given the circumstances he was delighted by the Dockers' record membership - which should put the club amongst the top five clubs when final membership figures for 2008 are released by the AFL on Thursday.
"Our supporters are passionate about the Fremantle Football Club and continue to support the club in the strongest possible way by being members," Hart said.
"This is a significant result for the club, given the record growth in membership over the past few seasons and the fact that reserved seat membership at Subiaco Oval is at near capacity."