The Western Derby started with great intensity as expected for the first game of the season. In the first 2 minutes there were 3 ball ups in the centre circle; Mim Strom and Paris Laurie show casing some nice ruck work to set the standard for the rest of the game. The first quarter was an arm wrestle until Ebony Antonio slotted away a dribbling goal from good pressure put on by debutant Makaela Tuhakaraina with 30 seconds to go.
New Fremantle skipper, Hayley Miller, put another 6 points on the board with a soccer style kick from the top of goal square after some nice pressure from the Freo girls. Ebony Antonio scored her second after great structural play coming out of defence through Laura Pugh and Steph Cain. Half time left us with Fremantle 19 Eagles 2.
Eagles opened up the second half with a close goal from Eagles captain, Emma Swanson from a well placed kick by former GWS player an debut for West Coast; Aimee Schmidt, just before putting away her own goal after a kick into the hotspot from Charlie Thomas, another Eagles debutant. This put the Eagles within 5 points at three quarter time.
After crumbing from a ball up, Ebony Antonio scored her third to increase Freo’s lead. Gabby O’Sullivan used the wind to her advantage to float another home from 50 out.
The last goal of the game came off the boot of Miller when she received a quick handball from Irish recruit and debutant Aine Tighe.
Both teams fought hard throughout the whole game with Eagles coming to play in the third quarter. Unfortunately they couldn’t keep the goals coming and the final siren sounded with Fremantle 6.7.43 to West Coast 2.3.15.
Best on ground was awarded to both Ebony Antonio and Kiara ‘Turbo’ Bowers after both showed excellent skill and composure out on the field.
Thanks you Yasmin Skene for the match report.
Thanks to Johan Schmidt Photography for the photo of Gabby O‘ Sullivan after she kicked a whopper of a goal from 50 out.