With just a draw to take from Fremantle’s opening three matches of the NAB AFL Women’s competition, senior coach Michelle Cowan says she’s well aware that Sunday’s clash with Adelaide is a must-win affair.
Not only do Fremantle need to win all four of their remaining matches this season to have a chance of finishing in the top two, they will also need other results to go their way.
Fremantle will be buoyed knowing that three of their remaining four matches are at home, starting this week when they host the Crows at Fremantle Oval.
“Every week is really important for us, this Sunday more than anything,” Cowan said.
“The girls have reviewed really thoroughly, trained well last night, and will train again tomorrow and compete really hard on Sunday.”
“Our season is still alive, absolutely, and the girls know that. They’ll be out to compete on Sunday.”
Fremantle sit seventh in the standings while Adelaide are sitting pretty on top of the ladder with a 3-0 record and a percentage of 230.6.
In January, Fremantle ran out easy winners against the Crows in a pre-season clash in Darwin, but Cowan knows her side faces a different prospect this time around.
“We had the opportunity to play them before, and every week I’ve seen Adelaide improve as the competition has gone along,” Cowan said.
“They’re a fantastic side, they’ve got a great list and they’ve come together really well at the start of this competition.”
While scoreboard pressure was a problem for Fremantle in the opening two rounds, they rebounded well kicking six goals in last week’s draw with GWS in Sydney.
But Cowan knows the side also needs to improve in other areas.
“It was easy for us to identify what we need to work on from last weekend,” Cowan said.
“Our team defence was something that let us down. But the great thing is they’re fixable things and we have the opportunity to respond on Sunday."
