Fremantle have named eight new faces, including seven potential AFLW debutants, for Sunday’s round one clash against Geelong at Fremantle Oval.
Ruck Mim Strom, forwards Roxy Roux and Kate Flood, midfielders Jasmin Stewart, Bianca Webb and Lindal Rohde and key defender Janelle Cuthbertson are all in line to play their first NAB AFL Women’s game, named in Freo’s extended squad of 23.
New signing Mia-Rae Clifford could also make her Freo debut against her former side, with the forward leading the Cats’ goalkicking in 2019.
The final team will be narrowed to 21 and announced on fremantlefc.com.au on Friday at 1pm.
Three debutants have already been confirmed. Strom’s debut was announced by ruck coach Aaron Sandilands before training on Wednesday evening.
Senior coach Trent Cooper also confirmed that Roux and Flood are also locked in to play.
“Roxy was our first draft pick so it’s no surprise that she’s playing round one,” Cooper said.
“She’s a really exciting prospect. She’s not a high possession player but she leaps high, takes great marks and kicks goals. She’ll be a player who the supporters will love and come through the gates to see.
“Kate was a prolific goal scorer in Ireland in Gaelic football and she’s learning our game very quickly.
“She’ll play up forward and we’ll look for her to add a lot of pressure and, hopefully, kick a goal or two as well.
“With the injury to Aine Tighe, Mim becomes really important - although she would have played anyway for us as a ruck as she’s been going so well this pre-season.
“She’ll be really competitive at the centre bounces and, hopefully, we can get first hands on the ball on quite a few occasions.”
After missing Fremantle’s most recent pre-season game on 25 January against Adelaide due to a minor toe injury, Sabreena Duffy has returned to the team to face the Cats.
Captain Kara Antonio and 2019 fairest and best winner Kiara Bowers played limited minutes in the pre-season and have both been named in the midfield.
Fremantle face Geelong on Sunday 9 February at Fremantle Oval. Bounce down is at 2:10pm and entry is free.
The game will be broadcast live into WA on Channel 7 and Foxtel and can be streamed via womens.afl.
SQUAD v CATS
Backs: Janelle Cuthbertson, Laura Pugh
Half-backs: Ange Stannett, Evie Gooch, Ebony Antonio
Centre: Stephanie Cain, Lindal Rohde, Kate Flood
Half-forwards: Katie-Jayne Grieve, Ashley Sharp, Hayley Miller
Forwards: Sabreena Duffy, Gabby O'Sullivan
Ruck/followers: Gemma Houghton, Kiara Bowers, Kara Antonio
Extended interchange: Philipa Seth, Leah Mascall, Bianca Webb, Roxy Roux, Jasmin Stewart, Mim Strom, Mia-Rae Clifford
