Fremantle have announced themselves as the clear favourites for this season’s AFLW flag after pummelling Gold Coast by 70 points in Saturday’s semi-final in Perth.
The Dockers were never troubled in the 12.8 (80) to 1.4 (10) win at Fremantle Oval, with the result setting up a preliminary final against Melbourne.
Hayley Miller (20 disposals, six clearances) was vital in helping Freo win the midfield battle, while Kiara Bowers (22 disposals, 14 tackles) added important grunt and hardness.
Sabreena Duffy (three goals) and Gabby O’Sullivan (two goals, three score assists) were among the players to cash in, while forward Roxy Roux provided her usual spark.
Jacqui Yorston (22 disposals, three clearances) tried her best for Gold Coast, but the Suns were completely outgunned apart from patches in the opening quarter.
Fremantle ended the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record, and their performance against Gold Coast is sure to send a shiver through their flag rivals.
North Melbourne were the other standout team during the regular season, but they almost got knocked out of the premiership race on Saturday before winning their semi-final over Collingwood by two-points.
The Dockers’ firepower through the midfield and up forward was on full display against the Suns, as well as their rock-solid defence led by Evangeline Gooch.
Gold Coast knew they were up against it coming into the match.
Not only were they playing their fourth straight match away from home, but they matched against an unbeaten team laden with starpower.
Gold Coast dominated the clearances 9-2 in the opening term, but Fremantle made the most of their opportunities to lead by eight points at the first break.
Paige Parker’s goal for the Suns late in the opening term would prove to be theeir one and only goal for the match.
Fremantle fixed their clearance woes in the second quarter, winning that stat 10-1 as they extended their lead to 27 points.
The hard work in the middle by Miller was complemented by pieces of individual brilliance up forward.
Gemma Houghton took a great high mark before nailing her set shot from the boundary.
But it was Roxy Roux who stole the show on the stroke of halftime, taking a huge pack mark before kicking truly from 35m after the siren.
The second half followed the same script, with Fremantle unleashing maximum damage – both on the scoreboard and on their opponents’ bodies.
Several Gold Coast players had to be helped from the field nursing various bumps and bruises, with Tiarna Ernst and Jasmyn Hewett later ruled out with concussion.
