Ahead of what will be their last time Fremantle fans get to cheer on their side at Optus Stadium for the year, they could be forgiven for feeling apprehensive.

After the Dockers followed up on the best home-and-away season in their 32-year history with a shock qualifying final loss to Hawthorn last week, their supporters packed the venue for a do-or-die semifinal clash with Geelong.

Last Thursday’s stunning 32-point defeat at the hands of the Hawks meant the minor premiers surrendered both their double chance in September and hosting rights for a preliminary final.

But their poorest showing of the year has not dampened the enthusiasm of the Purple Haze, if how quickly tickets for their clash with the Cats were snapped up is anything to go by.

After Fremantle’s members got the first crack at securing their seats for the contest, the club confirmed the game was a sell-out barely 90 minutes after access opened for the general public on Monday afternoon.

The Dockers broke an AFL record by playing in front of crowds greater than 50,000 people in their final nine games of the home and away season, and extended the run to 10 in the qualifying final.

The all-time home crowd mark of 59,446 they set only last week appears set to be surpassed tonight.

Pubs and restaurants around East Perth were filled with purple from lunchtime on Friday, with thousands of fans opting to make the pilgrimage to the ground over Matagarup Bridge.

Geelong’s biggest name Bailey Smith was the very first player to get a look at Optus Stadium’s surface, emerging from the race just under three hours before the scheduled start time of 6.10pm.

The much-discussed Cats superstar was quickly followed by Fremantle ruckman Mason Cox, who — just as he did before last week’s loss to the Hawks — laid down in the centre circle to complete an entry into his journal.

Dockers star Josh Treacy, who is normally their first player to begin his warm-up, was out on the grass shortly after to complete some customary work with a tennis ball and without any shoes.

Intriguingly, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir made a rare foray onto the surface to share a conversation with his All Australian ruckman Luke Jackson.

AFL football boss Greg Swann was another big name to take their chance to get out on the grass, chatting with members of the league’s umpiring department.