TRAINING
Match sim: No holding back after lockdown

Fremantle has won a bruising RAC Derby by nine points, prevailing in the wet against a brave West Coast team that was left nursing more injuries at Fremantle Oval.

The Eagles drew to within six points early in the final quarter but couldn't find the late goal they needed, going down 2.11 (23) to 2.2 (14) in the second clash between the AFLW rivals.  

Fremantle star Kiara Bowers was brilliant for the Dockers and gave her team the hard edge needed in the wet, finishing with 22 possessions (17 contested), seven clearances and a goal, winning the AFLW Derby Medal unanimously. 

The skilful and fast Dockers were stripped of their attacking game in the conditions but stood up in the contest, winning the clearances 26-20 and the contested ball 120-89.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:24

    Crown Courageous Moments | Kara Antonio

    No one can get through Kara 'Brick wall' Antonio

    AFLW
  • 02:12

    AFLW | RAC Derby player of the match presentation

    Kiara Bowers takes out RAC Derby player of the match award

    AFLW
  • 05:53

    AFLW | Trent Cooper post-match Rd 2

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after round two's match against West Coast

    AFLW
  • 04:17

    AFLW | Match Highlights Rd2 v West Coast

    The Fremantle Dockers and Eagles clash in round two of the NAB AFL Women's competition

    AFLW
  • 00:32

    Don't take on the great wall of Antonio

    Ashlee Atkins makes the mistake of trying to break the tackle of Kara Antonio

    AFLW
  • 00:33

    Turbo powers this long bomb all the way home

    Kiara Bowers throws the ball on the boot at the stoppage and the bounce does the rest for a vital goal

    AFLW
  • 00:33

    Classy Houghton with the wow-factor from the pocket

    Talk about a gem from Gemma Houghton as the Fremantle star gives her side the lead

    AFLW
  • 20:15

    AFLW RAC Derby | Trent Cooper and Daniel Pratt media conference

    Trent Cooper and Daniel Pratt spoke to WA media heading into the AFLW RAC Derby

    AFLW

Beaten by 45 points in the first AFLW Derby in 2020, West Coast was a much-improved unit and sniffed an opportunity late in the final quarter.

The second-year team came up short, however, and was left nursing hand injuries to Niamh Kelly and Andrea Gilmore, who were both sidelined before three-quarter time.

The Dockers, who extended their unbeaten run, were challenged early when the Eagles got the first goal of the match through recruit Aisling McCarthy.

The tide turned in the second term when Freo won the inside 50s 11-1, but inaccuracy cost the home side.

Turbo charged
Bowers' midfield performance was supreme in conditions she would have relished. A tackling machine who is balancing her defensive assets with an attacking edge as well, she racked up 14 tackles, including eight in the first half. When the match was in the balance in the final quarter she was on the frontline, winning four of her seven clearances to ensure the ball kept going her team's way. The dual club champion looks in top form and will again be among the competition's very top bracket.

Bowen shines
Second-year Eagle Mikayla Bowen is already a leader for her group and showed why on Sunday, playing with poise and skill beyond her years. She was everywhere at times, covering the ground to win her disposals at half-back, half-forward and inside and outside the contest, winning a team-high 10 of her 18 touches the hard way. In a physical Derby, she was shaded on the ground only by brilliant midfield opponent Bowers.

Winged Eagles
The injury issues at West Coast are such that coach Daniel Pratt conceded he was less concerned with winning late in the match and more concerned with getting his players to the finish line. If ruck Parris Laurie is unavailable next round, the club will likely need to look outside its list to fill its structural needs and field a full team. Pratt was hopeful Laurie had suffered a bad corkie and nothing structural after she insisted on playing on. Gilmore suffered split webbing and also wanted to push on, while Kelly's finger issue will be assessed.

Say what
"It was a credit to West Coast the way they defended, but they got a lot of numbers back, which made it difficult. They had 14 or sometimes even 15 players back behind the ball, so they never really looked like scoring. As frustrating as it was, we didn't feel in danger that they were going to score at the other end. Definitely would have liked a few more goals along the way, but at the same time we didn't feel like they were going to break it open at the other end." - Fremantle coach Trent Cooper

"They got on top of us, but I was really proud of the way our players kept fighting it out. Unfortunately in a short period of time we haven't been able to work on scenarios such as that, getting stuck in defensive 50 … They were tougher around the contest when they needed to be and they got the supply they needed to dominate the game." - West Coast coach Daniel Pratt

FREMANTLE        0.3   1.6   2.8   2.11 (23)

WEST COAST        1.1   1.1   1.2   2.2 (14)

GOALS
Fremantle: Bowers, Houghton
West Coast: McCarthy, Cameron   

BEST 
Fremantle: Bowers, Cain, Miller, Duffy, Haynes, Cuthbertson, Houghton
West Coast: Bowen, Smith, McCarthy, Swanson, Laurie, Bullas 

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil 

West Coast: Gilmore (hand), N Kelly (finger), Laurie (leg)

Reports: Nil 

Crowd: closed to the public at Fremantle Oval 

AFLW Round 2 - Fremantle v West Coast

AFLW 2021 Round 02 - Fremantle v West Coast
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