How different was the atmosphere out there?
(Kara) Travelling over here we knew, whether there were fans here or not, we wouldn’t have the majority. We had a really good captains run yesterday when there was no one here so we kind of got used to it and it was business as usual. I felt like we created our own energy in the build up knowing what was going on behind the scenes and it probably took us two and a half quarters to get into the swing of things, but I’m really happy with the efforts today.

Was it strange at all for you not hearing any crowds?
(Kara) Not really, it wasn’t really a focal point for us. Again, travelling team/ away team we knew the crowd, whether there was one here or not, weren’t going to be on our side. It’s not really a factor at all, wasn’t too weird, in local footy you hardly have anyone come down to watch you so it was a bit like that really.

Any talk that suggests we could have an expedited grand final? If so, what would your take be?
(Trent) No, I haven’t heard about that. It’s hard to say because we don’t really understand the pandemic and what it means, if they say we’ve only got one more week before it’s shut down then it probably makes sense. There will be people above us who make those decisions and they’ll do that with the medical facts at hand and what’s best for the AFL. If that’s the case that’s what it will be, but we will just wait and see what does happen.

How would that feel to you as a player Juddy (Kara Antonio) obviously you would be involved in that Grand Final but is it strange that the season wouldn’t play out?
(Kara) I’ve just finished a game so I haven’t even thought about that to be quite honest, I think the only positive is that we haven’t lost a game so we would host it hopefully, that would be nice. I obviously haven’t thought too much about it, I’m just really stoked with the win, the gutsy win and the grit to come back. The Bulldogs were really good today they fought it out to the end and the way that our girls responded in that last quarter against the flow of play, even when the Dogs got that goal makes me really proud. Our debutant, I thought Sarah Garstone was fantastic across the ground, went forward and back. There were some big moments from Kate Flood and Ashley Sharp who I thought were both outstanding today.

Who got you going?
(Trent) Kara was definitely one when we threw her inside to start winning the clearance, that was a big one we sort of resisted all year but thought we needed to at that stage. Bowers and Miller just kept going all day so I’m not really sure they sparked things. I thought probably the most crucial part of the game was the contested mark by Sharp in the goal square when the momentum was really against us. For her to take that strong mark and kick the goal just settled things down so I thought that was probably the big moment of the game. 

The thought of going undefeated throughout the whole season, is that something that is starting to creep into the mindset or not at all?
(Trent) Not really, we aim to be undefeated and win every game. We don’t talk about being undefeated, but we talk about winning the next week, so I suppose that comes along as it does. We’ve never mentioned that word, we’ve never mentioned even qualifying for finals. If the season plays out, I don’t think even after today we’re guaranteed to play finals so we just have to keep going and winning against whoever gets put up against us.

You play Melbourne next week which will be a huge game in terms of how this conference and finals mix shape up, how long have you had that one in the diary?
(Trent) We watched the game last night, they’re a good side. They’ve always just fallen short of finals when they’ve been expected to make it, so they’ve got a lot of motivation to do it. It would be a cracking game at Freo Oval so hopefully it does go ahead. We had a really good game against them at Casey fields last year, it was a cracking standard of a game so looking forward to it if it does take place.

Other than the other obvious Hygiene methods, what other measures have you taken in light of the Coronavirus?
(Trent) Well we were all in masks on the way over looking like Donald Duck. That doesn’t keep you safe but just any little thing we can do, we want to do. We’ve all been given the hand sanitizer which we are all carrying around, limiting contact with some people. It’s hard in the AFLW space because the girls have got lives to live and have to work, so it’s hard to lock them away.

(Kara) I think the clubs been proactive in terms of putting in the measures that need to be put in. I think a statement came out from all of the CEO’s and Simon (Garlick) is on the front foot to make sure all of the players and staff are kept safe and reducing the risk of what could be. Really happy with what Fremantle have done and the rest of the AFL.

Do you think the girls will go to work this week?
(Kara) We have to unfortunately. 

How do you mitigate the risk?
(Trent) We’ve been briefed to stay one and a half metres from everybody, all the hygiene, washing your hands as often as possible, no contact with people and just being really careful with food and different things so we will be doing everything we can to mitigate that risk.

Any injuries today, I know Roux was rested will she be right for next week?
(Trent) Roxy will definitely be available for next week. She’s had a big year, not just with us all the way through from State 18’s, National Academy, WAFLW they went through the finals and played the grand final and then with us straight into a pre-season. Bianca Webb was the same, we rested her last week and Roxy this week, so she will be back next week.