AFLW Season Seven Round 5

West Coast v Fremantle
Round 5, AFLW Season Seven

Swanson takes a mark. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Thur, 22 September 2022 (1.10pm WST)

Venue

Perth Stadium

Attendance

6,552

Result

Lost by 3

Score

FRE 3.8.26 - 3.5.23 WCE

Brownlow

Ladder

13th

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West Coast came close to a maiden Derby win, pushing Fremantle to the final siren to fall by three points. In front of a large public holiday crowd, the Eagles goaled through Kate Bartlett in the first few minutes and led until a scoreless third term saw the Dockers hit the front. A late goal by Bella Lewis narrowed the margin to a single point but Fremantle managed to hold on. Lewis had 25 touches and four tackles to go with her goal and Sarah Lakay dominated the ruck with 42 hitouts.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
West Coast		1.2.8		2.5.17		2.5.17		3.5.23
Fremantle		1.1.7		2.2.14		3.4.22		3.8.26

Goals: Bartlett, Bushby, Lewis

Best: Lewis, Swanson, McCarthy, Thomas, B.Smith, Britton

Injuries: Nil

Milestones: Bushby AFLW debut, Lakay Rising Star nomination

Named sides

	West Coast				Fremantle
B:	3.Thomas	14.B.Smith		B:	3.O'Driscoll	4.Stannett
HB:	7.Schmidt	35.McDonald	11.McCarthy	HB:	29.Cuthbertson	30.Low	32.Pugh
C:	17.Hooker	8.Goranova	5.Rowley	C:	22.Runnalls	19.Miller	5.Verrier
HF:	6.Lewis	20.Bartlett	25.Hartill	HF:	27.Lally	14.Franklin	7.Gore
F:	21.Western	12.Humphries		F:	10.Tighe	25.Kauffman
R:	23.Lakay	13.Swanson	4.Roberts	R:	21.Strom	2.Bowers	9.O'Sullivan
I:	27.Bennett	19.Cameron	15.Bushby	I:	18.Seth	20.Stribley	8.East
	18.Britton	9.Simmons			22.Roux	5.Mulholland
E:	24.Bullas	32.Petrevski	22.E.Smith	E:	28.Hyde	24.Wielstra	16.Read

In: Bushby

Out: Sedunary (calf)

New: Abbygail Bushby (Swan Districts)

From the coach

"I think as a young developing team we took a step forward today. Especially in the first half our pressure around the footy, clearance and dominating time in our front half. We probably didn’t capitalise in the first quarter. We missed a couple of shots that we could have kicked. But I think if you look at what our group was able to deliver today. We were in the fight against a good team, Freo are still a good team. I know it’s their first win but they’ve still got some very good players and I was impressed with what we delivered.

"I think we are building and developing, more of our players are contributing more frequently. I was surprised that Bella (Lewis) only got one vote, I thought she was outstanding today. But I think there is more contributors throughout the course of the game, so positive in that regard.

"...I think her (Lakay's) growth is probably a two-fold thing. She’s got her herself a little bit fitter this year, we had Parris Laurie last year but she’s now a number one ruck and really thriving. She’s doing some really good things, she had 42 hit outs today which is outstanding. But for us to have plus 20 hit outs we need to get more from our clearances - I think it was only plus three - so we need to work out how to get more efficiency from her dominance."

From the papers

The West Australian

"Both coaches predicted the game would be won in the midfield and it’s where Fremantle got the best out of Bowers in the second half.

The Eagles soared into half-time with a 17-8 lead in the clearances and a three-point buffer.

In response, Fremantle deployed Bowers up forward with a view of her surging forward to provide an extra number in the midfield.

West Coast defender Belinda Smith went with her but Bowers, who won the first four best-on-ground medals in derby history, laid a game-high 18 tackles to go with her 17 disposals."

Injury list

In the leadup to the match the following players were listed as being injured or unavailable:

Player		Injury		Expected return
Gooch		Wrist		Season		(On inactive list)
L.Wakfer		Knee		Season		(On inactive list)
Davison		Knee		Season		(On inactive list)
Gibson		Knee		Season
Sedunary		Calf		2 weeks
Schilling		Ankle		Test

References

https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2022/4683/wce-v-fre