Fremantle’s four remaining inaugural AFLW players have paid tribute to retiring champion Kara Antonio at the Club’s Fairest and Best awards at Optus Stadium.
Gabby O’Sullivan, Hayley Miller, Kiara Bowers and Ebony Antonio all played alongside the inaugural captain in Fremantle’s first AFLW season in 2017.
“Those four girls are all really special to me,” said Kara Antonio.
“The lockeroom banter is something I will miss the most.”
Antonio retired on 47 AFLW games after making an emotional return from hamstring surgery to play one last game in Fremantle’s round 10 win over Hawthorn.
The 30-year-old bowed out on a high, kicking two goals in the thrilling five-point win.
“I actually will miss pre-season, but I won’t miss the 2K time trials,” said Antonio.
“And the free physio. I haven’t paid for a physio for seven years. It’s $55 to go to the physio, that’s a bit steep!
“I will obviously miss game day – I’m such a competitive beast.
“I’m doing the Rottnest swim so hopefully I don’t drown.”
Captain Miller, who took over the leadership heading into 2021, kicked off a special 30-minute tribute to Antonio.
“The club needed a role model to begin the AFLW journey,” said Miller.
“She set the standard from the first training session we had down at Freo,” added Bowers.
“When we needed someone to step up, we didn’t even need to look around.”
Signed as a marquee player for Fremantle alongside Bowers in 2016, Antonio says she achieved nearly everything she wanted in her AFLW career.
She also looked back at what might have been after Covid 19 cut short Fremantle’s undefeated season in 2020.
“I wanted to achieve 50 games for this footy club – 47 was close,” said Antonio.
“I wanted to win a premiership and we were close. I said in my farewell speech (to outgoing coach Trent Cooper) – we’re the 2020 premiership coach and captain.”
