Paul Hasleby: Michael Walters must be the last Fremantle great of this era to end his career without a flag

It’s been a pretty a sad fortnight here in the west with the retirements of three influential figures of WA football. Jeremy McGovern was forced to retire due to concussion, Dom Sheed called time on his career and Michael Walters had to admit that his body was no longer capable of handling the rigours of AFL. All three will be remembered for different reasons throughout their careers. McGovern an absolute colossus in defence. A five-time All-Australian and premiership hero who was the best defender of his generation. Sheed will be remembered forever for his heroics in the closing stages of the 2018 grand final. That goal would be ranked right at the top of the most iconic moments in WA football history. And then there was the retirement of Walters. One of the best to walk through the doors of the Fremantle Football Club. A man who was banished from the club by then-coach Ross Lyon only to return and become a one of the most popular players in Dockers’ history. Popular because he endured some tough times, overcame the challenges and created magic on a weekly basis. But as he announced his emotional retirement in front of his teammates on Thursday, it hit me once again that there was a difference between McGovern, Sheed and Walters. Walters didn’t get the chance to retire and be celebrated as a premiership hero like the others. Unfortunately, it’s an all too familiar occurrence for the 256 Fremantle players who have represented the port club. When Walters broke down in tears telling his teammates that his premiership dream was over, it hit me like a Mack truck because I too have lived that same feeling. Yes, there is emotion that the journey has ended but the real sadness comes from the final realisation that you will never lift that Premiership Cup. In our great game the measurement of success is in premiership medals. It validates all the hard work, dedication and sacrifice. It doesn’t mean non-premiership players aren’t successful but I can tell you from personal experience that there is always something missing, a dark space that exists. For us, Dockers players, we have all dreamt of winning the historic first premiership. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I dreamt about being presented on stage in the middle of the cappuccino strip in Fremantle in front of our long-suffering die-hard fans and celebrating together. When Walters mentioned that his teammates allow him to drink from the cup when they finally achieve the ultimate success, the emotion overwhelmed him because in that raw moment he knew he would never achieve his dream. I had seen this to story many times before. I was there when club legends Shaun McManus and Shane Parker had to call time on their careers. Deep down, I was sad for them at the time, but I believed that it was going to be different for me. It wasn’t. Not long after I retired with broken dreams. Then there was Antoni Grover. At least Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin, Michael Johnson, Stephen Hill and David Mundy got to experience the thrill of a grand final. I’m not sure whether it hurts less to never make a grand final as a player or to lose one and know how close you were. I’m not going to lie it has been hard to watch just about every one of the Eagles legends retire as premiership heroes. West Coast have earnt those premierships and it’s clear that Fremantle need to be better, but it must stop with Walters. Sonny needs to be last Fremantle legend that doesn’t achieve the ultimate success. Nat Fyfe still has a chance but would need a lot to go right from this point with is body. I’m not sure of Fyfe’s and the club’s plans for next season but if you ask any retired player if they would swap places with the dual Brownlow medallist for what could be one last roll of the dice for the superstar, we would do it in a heartbeat. After Fyfe it will be Jaegar O’Meara, Luke Ryan and then current captain Alex Pearce who will likely be the next to go. They still have a chance to live out their dream and it starts today against Sydney. It’s always been a challenge to beat the Swans in Sydney but if this current group is serious about being the players that live the Fremantle dream, then these are the big scalps that must be taken. There has been to many good men and women who have dreamt and sacrificed so much to bring the ultimate success to the fans of Fremantle, it must end with Walters.