Fremantle have extended their AFLW western derby dominance over West Coast, notching up their seventh-consecutive victory over their crosstown rivals with a 23-point win at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
A four goal to zero opening half set the table for more derby delight for Fremantle and West Coast were left to rue inefficient goal-kicking as the Dockers triumphed 5.5 (35) to 1.6 (12) in front of 6047 fans.
Mim Strom equalled her own league-record for hit-outs with 48 en route to the derby medal for best-on-ground, while former West Coast midfielder Aisling McCarthy starred against her former teammates with 20 disposals, 11 tackles, five inside 50s and five clearances.
Gabby Newton did a little bit of everything in a superb performance, while Bella Lewis was outstanding in defeat for the Eagles, finishing with 26 disposals, seven clearances and a game-high 507m gained.
While a win over their rivals will have have been pleasing to Fremantle coach Lisa Webb — particularly with co-captain Hayley Miller a late out due to a nagging calf injury — it also kept their top-four aspirations alive.
Melbourne’s win over fifth-placed Richmond earlier on Saturday opened the door for Fremantle to move level with the Tigers on points, and the Dockers took full advantage.
Conversely, the Demons’ victory coupled with the Eagles’ loss allowed Melbourne to leapfrog West Coast in the race for the finals, the latter still four points adrift of a maiden top-eight finish in 11th spot.
The Eagles toiled and the scoreboard was perhaps not the most accurate representation of what was ultimately a fairly-even game, but Fremantle’s clinicality in front of goal was streets ahead of where West Coast needed to be.
Outside of the goal-kicking, it was the Dockers’ ability to eat up territory, dominate the ruck and composure inside 50 which was the main difference between the two sides, particularly in the first-half.
The Eagles actually had six more disposals at the main break, but Fremantle led inside 50s (19-9), hit-outs (36-13) and clearances (15-12).
Their first-half inside 50 advantage was writ clear on the scoreboard and it was fitting McCarthy, facing her former Eagles teammates for the first time, grabbed the game’s first goal with an opportunistic finish inside 50.
Fremantle’s slow first quarters have been a topic of discussion this year, but Newton’s poise and guile set up Gabby Biedenweg-Webster for her first goal of the afternoon.
When Dana East goaled amidst a sea of bodies from close range, déjà vu began to set in; Eagles fans had seen this story before.
Having spent most of the early exchanges under duress down back, West Coast managed to achieve parity in terms of territory, but wasted a few opportunities to reduce the deficit.
As Lewis began to dominate the ball, West Coast threw Ella Roberts forward, but the young gun missed a pair of set-shots which she would have usually nailed.
While the Eagles managed to get the game back on even terms, there was little they could do to quell the influence of Strom in the ruck, who tallied an eye-watering 20 hit-outs in the first term alone and continued to dominate at the stoppages.
West Coast’s inability to trouble the goal umpires was compounded when Ebony Antonio’s handball teed up Biedenweg-Webster for a second.
Down by almost four goals with two quarters to play, the Eagles continued to battle and get hands on the ball, but the Dockers’ sturdy defence — an ever-present fixture of their side this season — was on hand to keep them at bay.
It was not until midway through the third quarter the Eagles kicked their first goal, after Roxy Roux and Jaide Britton combined to tee up Amy Franklin and the ex-Fremantle forward nursed the ball through the middle of the sticks.
It was Fremantle’s turn to batten down the hatches as the Eagles sensed the 16-point margin was suddenly not such a daunting mountain to climb.
With the crowd stirring, the first goal of the final term was always going to be vital, but the Dockers defence continued to stand tall and deny the Eagles sights on goal.
As the sun set in Leederville, so too did West Coast’s hopes of arresting their winless derby record vanish, and Orlagh Lally’s late goal sealed yet another Dockers win.
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