AFLW: Fremantle |
Fremantle joined the AFLW Women's League and played its first game in 2018.
In May 2016, the club launched a bid to enter a team in the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017. As part of the bid, the team would guarantee all players education and job opportunities with the club and the partnering Curtin University.
Fremantle beat out a bid from rivals West Coast when they were granted a license on 15 June 2016.
Kiara Bowers and Kara Antonio were the club's first signings, unveiled along with the league's other 14 marquee players on 27 July 2016. A further 24 senior players and two rookie players were added to the club's inaugural list in the league's drafting and signing period.
Former South Fremantle assistant coach, Michelle Cowan was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in July 2016.
The club's initial bid outlined plans for a game each at Domain Stadium and at Curtin University's Bentley campus as well as up to two remaining matches held at the club training base in the city of Cockburn. The club eventually played two home games at Fremantle Oval, one at Domain Stadium and one in Mandurah. In 2018, the Dockers hosted the first football game at Perth Stadium but will play the remainder of their home games at Fremantle Oval.
The Dockers struggled in their inaugural season, only winning one of seven games and finishing seventh out of eight teams on the ladder. They fared slightly better in 2018, winning three matches, but again finished seventh on the ladder.
In 2019, Fremantle had their most successful season, losing only one game during the home-and-away matches (to eventual premiers Adelaide and making the finals for the first time. The team, now coached by Trent Cooper and with Kiara Bowers making her long-awaited debut after two injury affect years, started the year with a high-scoring victory over Melbourne in the opening round and then kicked their highest ever score, 10.7 , in round 2 against Brisbane. Despite having won two more games than Carlton, the controversial conference system saw Carlton host the knock out preliminary final and inflict Fremantle's second defeat of the year. In the post-season awards, Bowers[76] and Dana Hooker came second behind Erin Phillips in the AFLW MVP award and AFL Women's best and fairest award, respectively. Bowers, Hooker and Gemma Houghton were all named in the AFL Women's All-Australian team. Ashley Sharp was awarded goal of the year for a long-run, multiple-bounce goal.
2020 PREVIEW
Just when things were looking up after an outstanding coming-of-age season for the previously cursed Dockers, their crosstown rivals West Coast Eagles entered the competition. They lost a total of nine players for essentially nothing to the Eagles; however, the added benefit of another Western Australian team means that Fremantle will play four of their first five games in their home state - rolled gold for their finals ambitions in 2020.
Inspirational midfielder Kiara Bowers essentially played her first season last year after back-to-back knee reconstructions cruelled her start to AFLW, however she is flanked by Stephanie Cain, Hayley Miller and a debuting Jasmin Stewart in what is predicted to be a scary midfield core in 2020.
Throw in Kara Antonio (formerly Donnellon), Gemma Houghton, Ebony Antonio, and Tayla Bresland - it's an impressive list that looks bound to make up for some missed opportunities in the finals.
The only sour note for the Dockers ahead of 2020 is the season-ending injury to Irish recruit Aine Tighe which leaves 18-year-old Mim Strom as the only ruck on the club's list.
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ AFLW: Fremantle
➼ www.afl.com.au
➼ www.facebook.com/aflwomens
➼ www.fremantlefc.com.au
❊ Also See.. ❊
➼ AFLW: Australian Football League | Women's League
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