Fremantle have called in a WAFLW top-up player for Sunday's Pride Round clash with Collingwood after losing four players to injury in a brutal week.
Irish recruit Orlagh Lally will miss her first match in an outstanding debut AFLW season after suffering a shoulder injury at training on Wednesday night.
It’s bad timing for the 21-year-old and the Fremantle side which has already lost three players to injury in last weekend’s loss to reigning premiers Adelaide.
Midfielder/forward Gabby O’Sullivan (shoulder), key defender Janelle Cuthbertson (ankle/knee) and ruck Sarah Wielstra (knee) were all injured before halftime against the Crows as a brave Fremantle succumbed in the last quarter.
Senior Coach Trent Cooper hoped Lally's mid-week injury would only see her sidelined for one match.
“It’s a minor shoulder injury,” Cooper said.
“Just a sublux shoulder, she’ll be out – hopefully for one – but she’ll have more scans and see the seriousness of that issue.”
Inside midfielder Dana East will run onto Fremantle Oval after missing the Crows clash with concussion, while Tara Stribley and Bianca Webb return to the side.
With adversity comes opportunity and 21-year-old Subiaco defender Madizen Wilkins will make her AFLW debut after training with Fremantle since the pre-season.
“All season she’s just worked really hard,” Cooper said.
“She got an opportunity against Richmond in the pre-season and performed well there, so she thoroughly deserves her opportunity.”
Veteran winger/forward Ebony Antonio will spend another week on the sidelines as the Club continues to take a cautious approach with a knee injury suffered in pre-season.
Fremantle are bracing for another tough challenge against the Magpies after boldly competing with Adelaide and Melbourne in back-to-back losses since a Round 5 win over the West Coast Eagles.
“A top four side again – they’re playing well and have won six out of their seven games,” Cooper said.
“We do match up well against them and we have a good record against them recently so looking for that to continue.”
Bouncedown for the clash is at 2.10pm WST at Fremantle Oval, while the match will also be broadcast live into Perth on Channel 7 and nationally on Fox Footy. It will also be streamed live on Kayo and the official AFL Women's app.
TEAM v COLLINGWOOD
IN: Dana East, Tara Stribley, Bianca Webb, Madizen Wilkins (train-on)
OUT: Janelle Cuthbertson, Gabby O'Sullivan, Orlagh Lally, Sarah Wielstra
Defenders: Emma O'Driscoll, Ange Stannett, Laura Pugh, Jess Low, Sarah Verrier
Midfielders: Philipa Seth, Hayley Miller, Airlie Runnalls
Forwards: Roxy Roux, Amy Franklin, Mikayla Hyde, Aine Tighe, Amy Mulholland
Followers: Mim Strom, Kiara Bowers, Nikki Gore
Interchange: Tara Stribley, Madizen Wilkins, Megan Kauffman, Bianca Webb, Dana East
Emergencies: Mackenzie Webb, Ruby Mahoney, Jae Flynn
