AFLW senior coach Trent Cooper said that the Fremantle playing group is embracing the need to travel for week one of finals.
Fremantle, who had a 6-1 record in the home and away season and finished runner-up in Conference A, will play away to Conference B winner Carlton (4-3) on Saturday at Ikon Park.
Cooper said that while he feels for the Fremantle fans in WA who miss out on seeing the game live, it is often an advantage to get away to bond as a team, with Fremantle winning both of their games in Victoria so far this season.
“We love it, the girls get a day off work, otherwise they would be at work today so they’re fine with that,” Cooper said.
“Normally on a Friday, the girls would be at work, they're teachers, physios, tradies, they would be doing all those things.
“This way, we get them in an environment where we can look after each other. They can stay with each other, eat as a group and play a bit of table tennis and get to bed early. For us, we’re loving that.
“We love getting away together and we don’t have the grind of travelling like the boys, who have to travel 12 to 13 times, so for us, so we’re embracing it.”
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Cooper said the obvious concern for Freo were their opponents, with Carlton hitting form at the right time of the season.
“They lost their first game against North Melbourne, but since then, their past six games have been really good,” Cooper said.
“They were the highest scoring team against Adelaide and they’ve won four of their last five and they should have won the other one.
“They have a really potent forward line so we have to stop the ball getting down there.”
