Fremantle have named their final team of 24 for the upcoming pre-season practice match against Collingwood at Fremantle Oval on Saturday 17 August.
The practice match comes just 14 days out from Fremantle’s official season opener, offering fans another look at new recruits and the hard work the side has put in throughout a long pre-season.
Former no.1 draft pick Gabby Newton will wear the purple jumper for the first time since being recruited to the Club in the AFLW Trade Period in December.
Newton joins Phil Seth, Áine Tighe, Laura Pugh and Airlie Runnalls in the starting forward lineup, who as a collective, booted 10 goals in last week’s match simulation against the Eagles.
Pugh, who has been a defender for most of her career, will switch it up and start alongside the forwards after spending a large portion of the pre-season gaining experience in another line.
The co-vice-captain spent the first half of last week’s match simulation forward before shifting to the backline for the final half, showcasing her strong marking hands, defensive pressure and ability to hit the scoreboard with a goal.
WATCH SATURDAY'S PRACTICE MATCH V COLLINGWOOD LIVE
Key forward Áine Tighe will look to mirror her efforts from last week, where she kicked three goals and took multiple contested marks throughout the match.
All-Australian defender Emma O’Driscoll will play in her first hitout of pre-season, joined in the backline by new recruit and cross-coder Ash Brazill, former Gold Coast Sun’s defender Gabby Biedenweg-Webster, inaugural Freo Docker Gabby O’Sullivan and Madi Scanlon.
Half-back Jae Flynn and Tunisha Kikoak (replacement player for Ange Stannett) will start on the interchange bench for the backline, with the new recruit impressing in last week’s match simulation against West Coast with her intercept marking ability.
Co-vice-captain Hayley Miller will captain Fremantle for Saturday’s practice match, as Ange Stannett continues to assist and provide support from the sidelines.
Bounce down for Saturday's practice match at Fremantle Oval is at 10am WST.
The match is free to attend for fans and will be livestreamed via fremantlefc.com.au from around 9.45am.
TEAM v Collingwood
B: Emma O’Driscoll, Madi Scanlon, Ash Brazill
HB: Gabby Biedenweg-Webster, Gabby O’Sullivan
C: Jess Low, Hayley Miller, Ebony Antonio
HF: Gabby Newton, Airlie Runnalls
F: Aine Tighe, Phil Seth, Laura Pugh
R/Fol: Mim Strom, Aisling McCarthy, Dana East
I: Amy Mulholland, Orlagh Lally, Megan Kauffman, Tunisha Kikoak, Jae Flynn, Joanne Cregg, Ariana Hetherington, Tahleah Mulder
E: Tara Stribley, Makaela Tuhakaraina
