A brave West Coast side fell to the Dockers in a hastily-rescheduled derby, held in unseasonably wet conditions behind closed doors at Fremantle Oval. In the midst of an injury crisis and coming off a midweek training ban thanks to a city-wide coronavirus lockdown, the Eagles held the highly-fancied Fremantle to just two goals but lost rucks Parris Laurie (leg) and Andrea Gilmore (finger) and midfielder Niamh Kelly (finger) to injury during the match. Recruit Aisling McCarthy laid seven tackles and kicked her first goal as an Eagle, and defender Belinda Smith tallied 17 touches.
Summary[]
| 1/4 time | 1/2 time | 3/4 time | Final | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremantle | 0.3.3 | 1.6.12 | 2.8.20 | 2.11.23 | ||||
| West Coast | 1.1.7 | 1.1.7 | 1.2.8 | 2.2.14 |
Goals: Cameron, McCarthy
Best: Bowen, Smith, McCarthy, Swanson, Laurie, Bullas
Injuries: N.Kelly (finger), Laurie (leg), Gilmore (finger)
Milestones: Pope AFLW debut
Named sides[]
| West Coast | Fremantle | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B: | 33.Ward | 27.Perera | B: | 8.Gooch | 29.Cuthbertson | ||
| HB: | 14.Smith | 35.McDonald | 20.Bresland | HB: | 4.Stannett | 3.O'Driscoll | 32.Pugh |
| C: | 1.Bowen | 11.McCarthy | 32.Orme | C: | 12.E.Antonio | 19.Miller | 15.K.Antonio |
| HF: | 12.N.Kelly | 28.Davison | 15.G.Kelly | HF: | 6.Duffy | 17.Roux | 22.O'Sullivan |
| F: | 22.Gilmore | 2.Gibson | F: | 27.Houghton | 23.Sergeant | ||
| R: | 25.Laurie | 13.Swanson | 6.Lewis | R: | 21.Strom | 2.Bowers | 7.Stewart |
| I: | 19.Cameron | 9.Atkins | 29.Pope | I: | 33.Haynes | 5.Verrier | 26.Webb |
| 24.Bullas | 4.Guard | 28.Hyde | 20.Cain | ||||
| E: | 31.Goranova | 30.Low | E: | 16.Maclachlan | 13.Grieve |
In: Cameron, Perera, Orme, Pope
Out: Hooker (foot), Collier (concussion), Green (ankle), Liddle (back)
New: Katelyn Pope (North Adelaide)
From the papers[]
The West Australian[]
"West Coast's game got off to a fine start when Irish imports Niamh Kelly and Aisling McCarthy combined to give the underdogs the first goal.
The Eagles' ability to adapt quicker to the slippery conditions combined with their efforts to get back into defence in strong numbers allowed them to hold the usually potent Dockers goalless in the first quarter.
After some persistent forward pressure, Gemma Houghton produced something special for the Dockers to break through midway through the second, snapping a goal over her left shoulder to give her side the lead.
This ignited Fremantle, who dominated the inside 50s 35-14, but a mix of the slippery conditions and stubborn West Coast defence ensured they could not put their hard work on the scoreboard.[1]
References[]
https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2021/2908/fre-v-wce
- ↑ Mitchell Woodcock, The West Australian (8 February 2021, p.48), "Crowing rights remain at Freo"
| 2021 AFLW season <--2020-21 offseason | Playing squad | 2021-22 offseason--> |
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| 2021 AFL season |
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Pre-season | 1 (ADL) | 2 (FRE) | 3 (BRI) | 4 (GWS) | 5 (GC) |