West Coast AFLW coach Daniel Pratt couldn’t have been prouder of his undermanned charges after they fought until the end in a gritty loss to Fremantle on Sunday.

Already battling a number of injuries before the match and down to the last fit player on the list, the Eagles then lost Irish speedster Niamh Kelly (finger) before half-time.

Ruck Parris Laurie (corked leg) and tall forward Andrea Gilmore (hand) were also struck down during a torrid affair at Fremantle Oval, which left players from both sides battered and bruised.

While the bigger-bodied and more experienced Dockers commanded field position for most of the match, West Coast never gave up and drew to within a kick in the last quarter before succumbing by nine points.

“The contest, it was going to be one of those games where that was the priority for both teams. I thought they got on top of us but I was really proud of how the players kept fighting it out,” Pratt said post-match.

“Unfortunately in a short period of time we haven’t been able to work on scenarios such as that – getting stuck in your D50 (defensive 50m) – such a short time with the group, so some really good learnings for us from this game.

“Credit to Freo, they were tougher around the contest when they needed to be and they got the supply to dominate the game.”

Unable to work with his players face-to-face during the week, Pratt focused on on-line education and leant heavily on his leaders.

One of the emerging leaders in the group, Mikayla Bowen, answered the call with a stellar performance.

The slightly-built midfielder racked up 18 disposals and won two clearances, while Belinda Smith (17 disposals), star captain Emma Swanson (16) and Tayla Bresland (10) also impressed.

Laurie came back on after suffering a bad corkie, showing her commitment to push through the pain and help lead the engine room with vice-captain Dan Hooker (sidelined).

“I asked a lot from our leaders during the week. We didn’t know what was going on. We’re down to pretty much our last player at the moment, so it was really important our leaders stood up,” Pratt said.

“At times they got beaten, but I thought for the day that they were able to wrestle their way back and ‘Bowes’ has been working her way through that as a leader within the group. I was proud of her and I was proud of a few other girls in particular.

“(Laurie) put her hand up to play again. I didn’t want to put her in the ruck, I was happy to put her forward, but she ended up putting herself back in the ruck so that probably just shows the quality of her character.”

Pratt was devastated for Hooker, who will miss the rest of the season after a freak household accident, and hoped for the best while he awaits a prognosis for Kelly, Gilmore and Laurie.  

“’Hooks’ is our best player if you’re running off the best and fairest from last year. So having your potential No.1 player ruled out two days before the game in that circumstance is shattering – both for her and for us,” Pratt said.

“We love her and we’d love her to be playing, but the reality is that we don’t have her now. It just gives opportunity for players like Bowen and we played Bella Lewis a lot longer in the midfield today, so she got to fight against some really good midfielders.

“(Shanae) Davison has played two games, we’ve debuted nine players already in two games. It just gives more opportunity for that. We’re in a growth phase and once we get to that experience that Freo are at.

“I feel as though those type of games may go the other way, or it may be much closer as a spectacle in the end.

“It’s great to get the development and growth into these players, but it would be ideal to have your No.1 player on the park.”