Fremantle co-vice-captain Caleb Serong has revealed his love for the Freo family in episode two of The Build.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode, Serong explained that following his drafting to Fremantle from his native Victoria at the end of 2019, he and his now wife - then girlfriend, Chloe - were fully embraced by the Club and playing group.
They formed strong connections from the outset as they settled into their new lives in the West.
“We’d been dating for about a year, and then within five months, COVID hit and the border was shut,” Caleb Serong said.
“Within 12 months, Chloe moved over here because we didn’t really have a choice.
“As a 19-year-old who didn’t really have any roots over here at all, for me, obviously, I had the footy club, and they did a great job of making me feel welcome.
“For Chloe, it’s a bit of a different story for the partners. To have her welcomed by - not only the partners of the Freo family - but also the players and the staff, made her transition over here and her time in the last five years incredibly enjoyable.
“What could have been a pretty tough time, and quite lonely at times, instead was quite seamless.
“Chloe’s created some incredible friendships, and she’s been a bridesmaid for two weddings that have been a part of the Freo family. So she’s created her own friendships.
“I guess for me, I’ve always been pretty family oriented. Connection is really important to me and something that I value really highly.”
Caleb and Chloe officially tied the knot in December last year, with Serong describing the presence of around 30 current and past players, alongside Senior Coach Justin Longmuir, Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty, and CEO Simon Garlick, and their partners, as a testament to the meaningful and genuine connections he and his wife have made over their six years in Western Australia.
“I think they (the Freo collective) would have enjoyed being there, but what it meant to us, just outside of that enjoyment, it was the Freo family,” Serong said.
“A lot of that is due to how they’ve embraced me, Chloe, and my family over the last six years, and those teammates and staff are a massive part of that.
“This is the strongest place I feel connection to, aside from my own family, in terms of the depth of the friendships and the connections I have - not only with the players, but having JL, Joe Brierty, and Simon Garlick at the wedding.
“I’ve created some really deep relationships with those guys and their families.”
Episode 3 of ‘The Build’ will air on your streaming platforms on Monday 2 February.
