Fremantle has started its 2024 season with a 43 point win away from home against Essendon.

The Bombers were left with three on the bench following a collision between co-captain Bonnie Toogood and Amber Clarke in the second quarter, with neither player returning to the ground following the friendly fire.

It wasn't always Freo's way, as the Bombers dominated the first quarter with the wind. Former Bulldog and Kangaroo Daria Banister, who returned to AFLW for the first time since an ACL injury last October, was able to capitalise on the Bombers’ ascendency when a holding-the-ball free kick allowed her to kick the first major of the game.

But the collision between Clarke and Toogood at the start of the second quarter disrupted the Bombers.

Clarke was immediately stretchered off the ground and later diagnosed with concussion, whilst Toogood, who looked to come off the better of the two, came to the bench with a suspected knee injury.

Essendon looked rattled following the incident and Fremantle took the momentum, adding four majors on the board, with two goals each to forwards Aisling McCarthy and Aine Tighe.

The Fremantle side looked to settle in the second quarter, utilising the conditions in their favour, matching Essendon's first quarter inside 50 count to go into half time with a 12 point lead.

Mim Strom (48 hitouts) broke the AFLW record for hitouts in a single match, and started to gain ascendancy in the ruck, classily palming the ball down to the likes of Gabby Newton (13 disposals, four clearances) and Hayley Miller (17 disposals, six clearances) who surged Fremantle forward.

Miller and Tighe combined their soccer skills at ground level for the Irish imports second goal of the quarter, with the Fremantle party starting early on the brink of half time.

It wasn't the start after the break that the Bombers wanted when Fremantle continued to add to its total. Philipa Seth kicked an impressive goal from the boundary. The Bombers tried to rally late in the quarter when Alexandra Morcom capitalised with a goal from turnover keeping Freo's lead to 12 points.

However it was all Fremantle in the final quarter as the travelling side blew the Bombers away.

Essendon failed to register a score in the final term as Fremantle swarmed with a flurry of inside 50s to win the count 40-21, while adding five further majors to their tally.

Aine Tighe kicked two more goals, making it four for the afternoon, capping off a brilliant performance and ensuring Fremantle walked away 43 point winners in their first home game of the season.

Up next
Fremantle will enjoy an eight day break, and will be hoping to continue its winning ways when they come up against Adelaide on Sunday night at Fremantle Oval. Essendon will look to get its first win of the season when it travels to the west next Saturday to take on West Coast at Mineral Resources Park.

ESSENDON      1.2   2.2   3.3   3.3 (21)
FREMANTLE     0.0   4.2   5.3   10.4 (64)
 
GOALS
Essendon: Bannister 2, Morcom
Fremantle: Tighe 4, McCarthy 2, Seth, Pugh, Kauffman, Runnalls

BEST 
Essendon: Nanscawen, Gay, Bannister Prespakis, Wales
Fremantle: McCarthy, Tighe, Strom, Brazill, East

INJURIES 
Essendon: Amber Clarke (concussion), Toogood (knee)
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 2820 at Windy Hill