Dana Hooker finishes neatly to snag a goal for Freo against Collingwood.

Fremantle Dockers remain unbeaten after 33-point AFLW win over Collingwood

Headshot of Braden Quartermaine

Fremantle have emerged as a genuine contender for this year’s AFLW premiership after a comprehensive win over Collingwood.

The Dockers, who are the league’s highest-scoring team, improved their record to 3-0 with a 33-point victory over the winless Magpies at Fremantle Oval.

The performance was only soured by the loss of debutant Brianna Moyes to a knee injury in the opening term. The former Perth Lynx basketballer was helped from the ground and took no further part.

The much-improved Dockers will next travel to Darwin to face Adelaide on Saturday night, but it is the final round date with fellow unbeaten side North Melbourne that is looming large.

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That round seven clash at Fremantle Oval on March 16 could decide top spot in conference A and hosting rights for a preliminary final.

The winners of each conference will play the runners-up in the opposite group, with the preliminary final winners meeting in the women’s decider on the weekend of round two of the AFL season.

Ebony Antonio and Kellie Gibson shone with two goals apiece for Fremantle, while skipper Kara Donnellan (a game high 18 disposals and six clearances) and Kiara Bowers provided the inside grunt.

Evangeline Gooch of the Dockers tries to get free.
Camera IconEvangeline Gooch of the Dockers tries to get free. Credit: Getty Images
The Game AFL 2024

Former West Coast Fever netballer Ash Brazill had 13 touches for the Magpies as one of their better players.

The dominant Dockers ran rampant on the sunny expanses of the club’s traditional home in the first half, booting five goals to none to all-but end the contest by the major break.

Fremantle had winners all over the field to that point, with their 31-point half-time lead coming on the back of a 23-6 advantage in inside 50s which was underpinned by their control of the clearance and contested ball battles.

It was a more even affair in the second half, with the Magpies giving as good as they got without seriously threatening a comeback.

The Dockers set the tone from the outset, with Gibson’s accurate drop punt from a tight angle after just 30 seconds quickly followed up by another clever major from Antonio.

The Pies managed to restrict the damage for the rest of the opening term, before Dana Hooker’s running goal early in the second term put the home side well in the ascendancy.

Bowers joined the party when a 50m penalty took her right to the goal line to kick Fremantle’s fourth goal, before Gemma Houghton’s cool head and quick hands set up Antonio’s second from the goal square just before half-time.

The visitors found their first major early in the third term when Sarah D’Arcy converted from close range following a 50m penalty.

The Magpies followed it up with a second through Jaimee Lambert early in the final stanza but never seriously threatened. A late goal to Katie-Jayne Grieve ensured the Dockers won the second half.