Back to back NAB Rising Star Nominations 

In rounds 11 and 12, the Fremantle Dockers’ saw back-to-back NAB Rising Star nominations for two of their young, talented players. Connor Blakely (round 11) and Lachie Weller (round 12), each received the honour after two outstanding performances.

Blakely received his nomination after a dominant performance against the Bombers in round 11. He finished with 25 disposals, five marks and seven tackles, in Fremantle’s 79-point win.

Blakely rising star nomination

Weller was nominated after Fremantle’s 83-point win over the Brisbane Lions in round 12, finishing the game with four goals, 22 disposals, three marks and three tackles.

Weller joins Rising Star's list

It’s the first time since last year a team has had back-to-back nominees, with Melbourne stars Jesse Hogan receiving his nomination in round 9, followed by Angus Brayshaw in round 10. Hogan later went on to win the NAB Rising Star award.

Opportunity through adversity

With a total of 36 players having represented the senior side this season, and 19 players currently on the injury list, the youth at Fremantle have had the opportunity to stand up at the top level and perform.

Thirteen players with 50 games or less have represented the side this year.

The players:

Hayden Crozier – 45 career games, including 11 played in 2016

Matt Taberner – 40 career games, 12 (2016)

Alex Pearce – 21 career games, eight (2016), injured

Jack Hannath – 20 career games, two (2016)

Lachie Weller – 17 career games, 14 (2016)

Connor Blakely – 10 career games, nine (2016)

Ed Langdon – Eight career games, six (2016)

Darcy Tucker – Six career games, six (2016)

Sam Collins – Five career games, five (2016)

Ethan Hughes – Four career games, three (2016), injured

Tanner Smith – Four career games, two (2016), injured

Brady Grey – Three career games, two (2016), injured

Michael Apeness – Three career games, one (2016), injured

Blooding youth paying dividends for Fremantle

Fremantle welcome inaugural women’s team

On 15 June the AFL announced the eight clubs chosen to field a women’s team in the inaugural national women’s league starting in 2017.  

Fremantle were one of the eight teams to be selected for the 2017 season. 

WA had over 49,000 female participants in 2015, taking up 21.8 per cent of WA’s overall participation in football. With this announcement, the numbers are only expected to rise. It’s not only a huge step forward for the AFL, but a great expansion for women’s football.

An exciting time for women's football

Crowley’s homecoming and send-off

Already dubbed as one of the memorable moments in football this year, the return of Ryan Crowley to Domain Stadium was met with questions of how the crowd would react to the return of one of their past heroes. The uncertainty was quickly put to rest when Crowley entered the playing field midway through the opening term of the game, met not with boos, but with cheers as the former club champion ran out on the field.

This respectful moment only topped by the premature ending to the return of Crowley, when he injured his hamstring late in the final quarter. As he was helped off the ground, the Freo Faithful got to their feet, and gave their former star a standing ovation as he hobbled off the Domain Stadium turf for one last time.

Crowley took to twitter after the game, to give the fans his thanks: “The reception I had from the Freo fans all night and especially at the end, I will never forget. It meant the world to me.”