A 10-point loss to North Melbourne on Sunday at North Hobart Oval may have put a dampener on the end Fremantle’s five-game interstate trip, but leader Gabby O’Sullivan said she couldn’t be prouder of the group’s efforts throughout their 22 days away from home.
Fremantle also faced a condensed schedule when interstate playing five games in just over three weeks, taking on GWS on 16 January, Richmond on 22 January, Collingwood on 27 January, the Bulldogs on 1 February and North on 6 February.
Freo finished the trip with four wins from their five games away from home to take their overall record to 5-1, sitting second on the ladder despite playing only one game from six in WA.
“Coops (senior coach Trent Cooper) said it in the rooms after the game, if anyone had told him we were going to come out of this road trip four and one, he would have thought he was dreaming,” O’Sullivan said.
“We’re all so proud of everyone’s efforts over the course of the three weeks and we’re really excited to get home now and play in front of some home crowds.”
O’Sullivan said Fremantle were left to rue their inability to create scoring opportunities from their forward entries against the Kangaroos, having six scoring shots from 33 inside 50s compared to North’s 11 scoring shots from 29 inside 50s.
“North Melbourne came out really hard, and to their credit, they were able to capitalise on a couple of opportunities in front of goals. We just couldn’t get the bickies today,” O’Sullivan said.
“They brought the pressure and it’s a credit to them, they’ve got some really great players across all their lines and I think when we got it inside 50, it was coming out quite easy because of their talent.”
O’Sullivan praised captain Hayley Miller (20 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances) as well as Ebony Antonio, who once again kicked a brilliant goal to bring Fremantle within a goal in late in the third term.
“Everyone is giving Hayley a lot of credit and it's becasue she's having a great season, taking that role of the skipper on board and absolutely shone on the field,” O’Sullivan said.
“She puts everyone on her shoulders and carries them along for the ride, like Turbo (Kiara Bowers) does, and makes everyone better around her.
“Ebony kicked another freak goal! I still don’t know how people are falling for the candy, but she does it so well and she’s another one, like Hayley, who is putting people on her shoulders and really pushed us forward.”
Fremantle are now set for an extended period at home and O’Sullivan can't wait to reunite with the Purple Army.
“We’ve been getting amazing support every single week, the DMs on Instagram and all the text messages. We’re really feeling the support from back home and to be able to go home and play next Saturday against Carlton, it’s going to be great to play in front of our home crowd,” O’Sullivan said.
“We’re going back to some familiar surroundings. I think most of the girls have set up a place south of the river (for quarantine). We’ll be in our home state and we’re looking forward to some hot days as well.”
