Fremantle captain Hayley Miller says her team will use the naysayers as extra motivation this season as it attempts to buck the odds by winning the AFLW flag.
The Dockers have been perennial contenders over the past four years, but are being widely tipped to slide this season.
Fremantle's hopes of snaring this season's premiership received a huge double blow when key duo Ebony Antonio (PCL) and Kara Antonio (hamstring) suffered serious injuries during the pre-season.
Their absence comes on top of the departures of star forward Gemma Houghton (Port Adelaide) and winger Stephanie Cain (Essendon).
Only one rival captain has predicted Fremantle will reach this season's Grand Final, but Miller is backing her team to defy the odds.
"I don't think there's ever been a season that most of the captains have said we're going to do well," Miller said.
"One of the seasons they all said we were going to be wooden spooners.
"It just gives us a little bit of drive. We've actually got up in our changerooms at the moment (articles from) a few journalists that have said that we're the most likely team to drop out of finals this year.
"You don't want to give it too much air time. But you use it as motivation to go, 'That's not what we're about, that's not where we're at, and we want to prove them wrong'.
"We think we're certainly going to make finals, and we want to be really competitive this year."
Fremantle's credentials will get a huge test on Sunday when it takes on flag favourite Brisbane at the Gabba.
Miller was named vice-captain of the All-Australian team last season in her first campaign as Fremantle's skipper.
Her standout campaign is set to see her become a target of rival taggers this season, and Miller is ready for the extra attention.
"The fact we've still got Kiara Bowers running through the midfield with me, most teams won't have more than one tagger," Miller said.
"So they've got to tag either myself, Turbo, or even Gabby O'Sullivan has been flying this season
"Our midfield depth is really strong. I know whoever gets tagged, we'll all support each other."
Miller sat out Fremantle's pre-season games due to a calf niggle, but she has declared herself fully fit to take on the Lions.
