Senior AFLW coach Michelle Cowan is looking forward to a return to Fremantle Oval on Saturday when Fremantle take on GWS from 2:05pm.
Cowan’s team notched their first win at the ground in round three against Melbourne and remains unbeaten in 2018 when playing at home.
Along with Optus Stadium, the site of Freo’s round two victory, the large expanses of Fremantle Oval have allowed for free-flowing football which has suited Fremantle this season.
“We love playing at Fremantle Oval and hopefully, our supporters will get around and support the game,” Cowan said.
“I love that ground, the girls love the space that we can use there, it really suits the competitive footy we want to play.
“Our win against Melbourne, it was great for our supporters and I thought everyone really rallied around us.”
With Fremantle sitting fourth in the NAB AFL Women’s standings, they are just one win outside of the top-two, which only raises the stakes of this season’s remaining three games.
“It certainly feels (like finals football) right from round one in such a short competition,” Cowan said.
“So it’s really important for us to prepare well for this week, which I’m happy with the way the girls have and we’ll be ready for Saturday.”
Cowan is anticipating a tough midfield battle against GWS, with captain Kara Donnellan leading a midfield looking to control the influence of in-form Giants midfielder Alicia Eva.
Eva, the GWS vice captain, has accumulated the second-most disposals in the AFLW this season and is coming off consecutive games of 23 disposals against Collingwood and Adelaide.
“They’ll test us through the middle,” Cowan said.
“Alicia Eva, she’s got great leadership as does Courtney Gum through the middle there.
“She’s really competitive around the ball and we’ve got a fantastic midfield led by our captain in Kara Donnallan and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
