Running defender Philipa Seth was one of the standouts on night one of pre-season, with an impressive runner-up finish in Freo’s 2km time trial on Thursday night.

Seth played seven games in 2021, missing the first three games of the season with a hamstring strain.

Prior to the injury, the reliable Seth had played every game since making her debut in 2019.

However, the dashing defender could see a positional shift at times throughout season six of the AFLW, after a successful experiment with East Fremantle in the WAFLW this year as a midfielder.

Senior coach Trent Cooper told The West Australian earlier this year that it’s a move that had been considered in previous seasons.

“We’ve trained her in the midfield for a couple of seasons but have been reluctant to throw her in there because we’d miss her run off half-back so much,” Cooper told The West.

Experienced midfielder Kiara Bowers, who ran first in Thursday’s time trial, said she is looking forward to what Seth can achieve in the upcoming season. 

“Every year she kind of has a little niggle here and there and I’m waiting for her to absolutely blow me away and take over me,” Bowers said.

“She is so fit, and I am keen to see what she does this year.

“I think she is incredible all over the ground and I would love her input in the midfield.

“She can run all day and against another opponent is where she does her best work.”

Seth finished ahead of Ebony Antonio and Gabby O’Sullivan in the time trial, who dashed to the line in a photo finish for equal-third.

Bowers said the banter was high prior to the run between the pair.

“There was a couple of banter moments before the run and usually those girls (Antonio and O’Sullivan) always run together,” Bowers said.

“I’m pretty sure ‘Epps’ had a personal best today and Gabby is probably the reason she did because she wouldn’t have wanted Gabby to beat her! 

“Those two were incredible today.”

With the time trial ticked off, Bowers said it was an opportunity for the group to get the footballs out and get stuck into pre-season.

“We will kick into training again on Saturday and go hard with the footballs,” Bowers said.

“Tonight we will do a bonding session inside and get to know all the new girls really well and connect.

“We are absolutely raring and ready to go for round one.”