Stephen Hill's famous burst towards goal at Kardinia Park might have been the first time Fremantle fans truly believed their team was capable of winning an AFL premiership.
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Some 13 years later - and more than three decades since the Dockers' formation as WA's second representative in the national competition - the 'Flagmantle' dream remains unfulfilled.
But that could all be about to change.
"The club has been kicked to the curb so often and looked down upon," Fremantle icon Shaun McManus told AAP.
"It would mean everything to win a premiership. It would get the monkey off the back and there would be no more questioning Fremantle.
"The whole city would erupt. It would be complete mayhem if they were able to get over the line."
Few have lived the Dockers' tortured and flag-less history more intimately than former captain McManus, a member of the inaugural squad from 1995.
The tough-as-nails midfielder, whose shock of blonde hair inspired a surfboard-wielding club mascot, gave his all for a team that scrapped for wins and enjoyed little success in the early years.
Upon his retirement in 2008, McManus, who played just four finals for one victory in 228 games with the Dockers, shared his dream for a brighter future.
"I'm confident it will happen soon," McManus said at the time.
"And when Fremantle win their grand final ... I'll be knocking 'Pav' off the stage to f***ing hold the cup."
Club legend Matthew Pavlich, just like fellow greats David Mundy, Nat Fyfe and Aaron Sandilands, failed to claim that elusive premiership before hanging up his boots.
A new wave of stars, led by inspirational captain Alex Pearce, have since reignited the flame.
The Brisbane Lions are now the last rival left standing between Justin Longmuir's Dockers and 'immortality' - the motivational mantra that Andrew Brayshaw put on the squad's agenda via letters in their lockers.
If they get there, McManus will be on stage with his former teammate and close friend Longmuir as the presenter of the premiership cup.
"I was so surprised," McManus said of Dockers chief executive Simon Garlick handing him the honour.
"I love the footy club so much and have spent so much of my life there. I was blown away ... it was incredible."
Born into a dyed-in-the-wool Fremantle football family, McManus was one of the first players aboard when the foundation Dockers lived a nomadic existence about town.
The threadbare facilities for a cobbled-together squad training at Attadale's Troy Park community oval were a world away from Fremantle's modern $110 million facility at Cockburn ARC.
Across town, 'big brother' West Coast had cashed in on being given unrivalled access to WA talent with two premierships, and were a force on the national stage when the Dockers arrived.
Inaugural CEO David Hatt has often recalled being told by then-AFL football operations boss Ian Collins that Fremantle's list-build rules were designed so they would win few games in their early seasons, with the Victorian establishment wary of creating another interstate powerhouse.
"We weren't given anything, there were no free kicks along the way," McManus said.
"We had barely any draft picks, we didn't have a proper home base.
"We were doing our weights down at Melville water polo club and training all over the place."
Fremantle lost their first nine meetings with West Coast and eventually got one back in 1999, sparking premiership-style celebrations among diehard supporters at The Left Bank.
The real line in the sand came a year later, when Damian Drum threw out the rule book for Dale Kickett and his mates to go wild in the infamous 'Demolition Derby', as cult figure Clive Waterhouse turned the brutal match their way with seven goals.
Chris Connolly guided the Dockers into their first finals series in 2003, through 'Sirengate' in Launceston and into a first preliminary final in 2006, when they fell short against Sydney.
Mark Harvey's reign brought about just one finals appearance and ended in ruthless fashion when Fremantle's hierarchy secretly lured Ross Lyon from St Kilda to take over.
Any unease at the decision within the supporter base was largely forgotten by 2013, when hard-edged taskmaster Lyon steered the Dockers into their first grand final.
Despite a horror first half, they twice got back within three points during the third quarter, but only briefly looked like seriously threatening a dominant Hawthorn at the start of their three-peat era.
Lyon delivered a minor premiership in 2015 but could not achieve the ultimate success, and his team fell off the proverbial cliff the following year.
It has since been a long climb back up.
Longmuir, who took over in 2020, has at times been under an intense spotlight throughout a heavily-scrutinised coaching tenure that could now deliver the holy grail.
What's different between this side shaped by Longmuir - whose famous after-the-siren goal against St Kilda in his trademark rolled-up sleeves remains one of Fremantle's most memorable moments - and those that missed out before them?
"This team has got more weapons," McManus said.
"All those previous teams had some real steel about them but there's a strong bit of resolve about this group, and it's more so the fact that they've got some real X-factor players.
"Murphy Reid is one of them, Shai Bolton's been outstanding and Luke Jackson ... and that's on top of everyone else doing their job at a high level."
Pavlich, now the Sydney Swans' chief executive, stood as Fremantle's beacon of hope for many years, carrying the club on his broad shoulders as captain.
The six-time All-Australian champion gave rise to the "Wharfie Time" rally cry, famously urging teammates to put on their Superman capes, and was a central figure in the previous flag tilts.
Pavlich said there were no mixed emotions after his Swans lost out to Fremantle's extraordinary preliminary final comeback.
But he would take some joy in seeing the Dockers finally climb the podium on the last Saturday in September.
"Now that it's not us (Sydney), I guess our family can be united again and we can hope that Fremantle salute," Pavlich told AAP.
"All-in on the Swans, but excited to see a lot of our family, friends, former teammates, people who we love through the long connection we have with Fremantle (soak up this Saturday) ... hopefully they can go well."
Longmuir's men are acutely aware of what a maiden premiership would mean to their club.
Several seasons ago, midfield leader Brayshaw penned a letter and put it in everyone's locker.
"The first 22 men to win a premiership at Fremantle will be immortals," Brayshaw wrote.
Past greats continue to influence the current group, with Fyfe and Michael Walters among those credited for passing on an appreciation for the Dockers' unique history.
"Hearing their stories, you appreciate the guys that have walked in these jerseys before we have," lightning-quick forward Michael Frederick told AAP.
"I know a lot of guys reflect on that.
"It's not our jersey individually ... we're running out with them and running out with all the guys that have paved the way for us to be where we are.
"It's a pretty special history."