A gallant West Coast pushed crosstown rival Fremantle all the way in a brave nine-point loss in Sunday’s AFLW RAC Derby.
There were wild and woolly conditions at Fremantle Oval as both coaches’ pre-game prayers were answered with constant rain to help douse the bushfires in Perth’s north-east.
But it made for tough conditions for the players, who reverted to territory football, punching, kicking and slapping the ball forward at any opportunity in a 2.11 (23) to 2.2 (14) defeat.
That strategy worked brilliantly for West Coast in the opening term, and Irish stars Niamh Kelly and Aisling McCarthy – no foreigners to conditions such as these – combined to strike first for the Eagles.
McCarthy’s dead-eye set shot handed the Eagles the advantage at quarter-time, before a dour defensive effort kept Daniel Pratt’s side right in the hunt at the major break.
Despite conceding 11 inside 50s to one in the second term, West Coast only conceded one major – to dangerwoman Gemma Houghton.
Kelly and Ashlee Atkins took crucial saving marks in defence, while Sophie McDonald’s rushed behind narrowly averted a second major for Fremantle.
The Eagles were only five points down at the major break, although their determined effort was soured by a severe left hand suffered by Kelly in the dying stages which ended her game.
It was a bitter blow after star midfielder and inaugural club champion Dana Hooker (foot) was ruled out for the season on Saturday, and the football gods appeared to have frowned upon the Eagles again in the third stanza when ruck Parris Laurie was helped from the field with a leg problem.
But the Denmark product returned in the final term and West Coast rallied again, with Imahra Cameron slotting a major in her return to action for the first time in 2021.
Ultimately, the visitors couldn’t find enough avenues to goal, however there were plenty of positives to take 12 months on from a 45-point loss to the Dockers in the first AFLW RAC Derby at Optus Stadium.
Fremantle gun Kiara Bowers took out the best afield medal after gathering 22 disposals and laying 14 tackles.
West Coast’s best were Belinda Smith, who was poised all match with her 17 touches, young gun Mikayla Bowen (18 disposals) and McCarthy (11, one goal) in another match where Pratt's team will take plenty of learnings.
DETAILS
Fremantle 0.3 1.6 2.8 2.11 (23)
West Coast 1.1 1.1 1.2 2.2 (14)
GOALS
Fremantle Houghton, Bowers
West Coast McCarthy, Cameron
BEST
Fremantle Bowers, Cain, Houghton, Miller, Duffy
West Coast Smith, Bowen, McCarthy, Swanson, Ward
INJURIES
Fremantle Nil
West Coast N.Kelly (hand)
Reports Nil
Attendance Nil
