Fremantle midfielder Katie-Jayne Grieve has praised the composure of 19-year-old debutant Emma O’Driscoll in the dying moments of Fremantle’s one-point win over St Kilda at RSEA Park on Sunday.

O’Driscoll stood up late taking two important marks in Freo’s defensive half, stopping the Saints from moving the ball forward in an attempt to win the game.   

Grieve said O’Driscoll’s ability to stop St Kilda in their tracks was match-saving.

“She really saved us at the end with those two big massive marks to really hold the game up,” Grieve said. 

“(It meant) we could get it back down our end.

“Emma did that really well to hold us up at the end (of the game).”

Grieve also looked to Gemma Houghton as a key factor to the win, with her efforts to impact the scoreboard late in the game. 

Houghton finished the game with three behinds, the last of which hit the post within the final minute of the game to give Freo a one-point lead. 

“We definitely escaped, and we were very lucky for Gemma to hit the post,” Grieve said.

“She was very important to seal the win for us – even though she didn’t get the goal, it was just getting it down there and putting it through.

“We still got the win so it is definitely a sigh of relief.” 

Grieve applauded the efforts of usual midfield suspects Kiara Bowers and Hayley Miller in the windy Moorabbin conditions.

Bowers brought her trademark tackling prowess finishing the game with 12 tackles, while Miller was particularly busy in the first half, with 13 disposals and four marks to her name at the final siren. 

“They were outstanding…Miller and ‘Turbo’ (Bowers) were really good in the middle,” Grieve said.

“They always use their strength around the ball and the communication that they use around the middle to get the job done (is great). 

“It was really windy on the far side, so we had to really work hard on locking it down when they were going with the wind.

“We knew we had the skills and really good run and carry, we just had to utilise it with the conditions. 

Grieve said lessons from the Saints clash will be learnt ahead of round five, as Freo return to play in front of a home crowd next Sunday against Brisbane at Fremantle Oval.

“There’s a lot that we can take from this game moving forward to next week’s home game,” Grieve said.

“It will be good to have the crowd (behind us) because it was a bit quiet this week!”

Join the Purple Army and become a Fremantle Dockers member today!