AFLW western derby: Fremantle Dockers coach Lisa Webb opens up on personal journey with Telethon

For Fremantle coach Lisa Webb, this year’s western derby will mean a little bit extra.

Saturday’s clash between the Dockers and West Coast is not just the most high-stakes derby the AFLW has ever seen, it is also being played in support of Telethon.

And Webb has opened up about her journey with the charity, which has been supporting her nine-year-old son Ollie from the first weeks of his life.

Ollie was born with Pendred syndrome, a rare genetic condition that impacts hearing. He has two cochlear implants.

“It was probably a bit of a shock, we found out about three days in,” Webb told 7NEWS.

“He did the new-born screening test and unfortunately didn’t pass that, so they came back a couple of times just to check in on what it was and three weeks later our journey with Telethon started.

“He was a newborn in my arms and they did a two-hour test and I had to try and keep him quiet … I just lay him in my arms and he didn’t quite react to the sounds as you normally would.

“We got some hearing aids for him and from about six weeks of age he started speech and hearing lessons.

“It was a challenging time, but one we’re really thankful for.”

Ollie goes to school at Newman College and is supported by Telethon beneficiary TSH to make classroom life easier, with speakers and teachers wearing microphones, and one-on-one sessions with occupational therapists and speech specialists.

“He has developed so well, we are really proud of how much hard work goes into it and all the special work that goes into it with the teachers of the deaf school,” Webb said.

“Telethon have been a massive part of our life now for nine years.”

Webb will lead the Dockers into the AFLW’s seventh western derby. The Dockers have never lost to West Coast.