Captain Kara Donnellan inspired West Coast to a 65-point victory against Fremantle in the first women’s football derby at Domain Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Donnellan gathered 22 possessions in a game that featured West Australia’s best female players.
After an even opening quarter, West Coast steadily asserted its authority in a bruising women's exhibition match that proved an entertaining curtain-raiser to the Eagles-Dockers AFL clash.
The Eagles moved the ball with far more system and always looked dangerous with marking options up forward.
Kira Phillips capped a superb return from an injury-interrupted pre-season by booting five goals in an eye-catching display of strong marking. The Peel Thunderbirds sharpshooter is sure to be in the West Australian team to be selected from players from both teams. And that combined line-up will be a tough test for the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on June 5.
Earlier on Saturday, in the first of three women’s exhibition matches this weekend, the Sydney Swans defeated the GWS Giants by 29 points at the SGC. American import Kim Hemenway booted three goals for the Swans, including the game’s opening two.
WEST COAST 1.4 5.7 7.9 13.10 (88)
FREMANTLE 1.4 2.4 2.5 3.5 (23)
GOALS
West Coast: Phillips 5, Schmidt 2, Randall 2, Miller 2, Angel, Sprylan
Fremantle: Lewis, Dilello, Wuetschner
BEST
West Coast: Donnellan, Phillips, Angel, Edwards, Randall
Fremantle: Antonio, Forth, Mascall, Fredrick-Traub
