Fremantle’s first AFLW finals appearance has ended in defeat with an impressive Carlton outfit running out 36-point winners in the preliminary final at Ikon Park on Saturday.
With Tayla Harris a reliable target up forward, the Blues controlled the contest almost from the opening bounce to post their second highest score with the 9.10 (64) to 4.4 (28) victory.
Nothing went right for Fremantle after it was forced to tackle the Blues without captain Kara Donnellan, a late withdrawal with knee soreness.
It left sidekick Kiara Bowers to confront the Blues' midfield brigade led by Brianna Davey and the Fremantle midfield was overwhelmed by weight of Navy Blue numbers. Even Dana Hooker, another Freo midfield ace, limped noticeably with heavy strapping on her right thigh.
Losing Donnellan was a bitter disappointment for Fremantle in the perfect, summer-like conditions tailor-made for the elite onballers.
And, despite Gabby O'Sullivan goaling from close range after taking advantage of a free kick to a teammate early in the first quarter, things deteriorated even more for the visitors.
Ashlee Atkins was helped to the interchange bench clutching her right shoulder after a tackle from Davey late in the opening term. And back Evie Gooch jogged off holding the left wrist after being crunched in a marking contest early in the second quarter.
Harris was unfazed by the midweek media focus and presented a dangerous focal point all game with her strong marking and long kicking prowess.
While the Blues had multiple options to Harris inside the forward 50, Fremantle struggled up forward, having to wait until O'Sullivan kicked her second 10 minutes into the third term for their next scoreboard success.
Carlton earned the Grand Final berth with superior ball use and a structure, particularly in the back half, that stood the rest of finals intensity.
The Blues split open the contest with their monopoly of the ball in the second term that resulted in a lopsided 14-4 inside-50 count.
Breann Moody, working superbly in the ruck duels, goalled on the run early in the second quarter, followed by Chloe Dalton and Maddy Prespakis who added to the scoreboard pressure.
When Darcy Vescio marked and goalled from close range seconds before the half-time siren, Fremantle was really under the pump to mount a second half revival to try to save its season.
More to come
CARLTON 1.5 5.7 7.8 9.16 (64)
FREMANTLE 1.1 1.2 2.2 4.4 (28)
GOALS
Carlton: Dalton 2, Vescio, Prespakis, Harris, Moody, Lucas-Rodd, Walker, Hosking
Fremantle: O'Sullivan 2, Houghton, Duffy
BEST
Carlton: Brazzale, Prespakis, Harris, Harrington, Moody
Fremantle: Bowers, Hooker, Gooch, Sharp
INJURIES
Fremantle: Donnellan (knee soreness) replaced in selected side by Grieve, Atkins (shoulder), Gooch (wrist), Miller (shoulder)
Carlton: Harrington (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Toner, Heffernan, McGuinness
Crowd: 7146 at Ikon Park
