Fremantle have emerged victorious in the first ever AFLW pre-season game, defeating the Adelaide Crows by 22 points at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
It’s been just 53 days since Freo’s women’s side first trained together, but it was Fremantle’s unity that shone through against a determined Crows outfit.
The 8.10 (58) to 4.12 (36) scoreline suggests the Crows were wasteful in front of goal, but it was Fremantle’s defensive pressure that often contributed to the Crows inability to convert.
Cassie Davidson and Tayla Bresland were resilient down back and gave the Crows forwards little space, while the towering Akec Makur Chuot saved multiple goals on the line.
But it wasn’t just in the backline where Makur Chuot shone, performing strongly in the ruck while acting as a key part of the Fremantle midfield that dominated the corridor.
Coming into the game from basketball, Gemma Houghton was outstanding in her first ever game of Aussie rules, showing plenty of pace from half back and delivering the ball well inside fifty.
Up front, it was 18-year-old Beatrice Devlyn who earned the honour of kicking the side’s first ever goal. After the Crows had the best of the early proceedings, Devlyn’s goal after ten minutes opened the floodgates for Freo.
Ashley Sharp added her first of three goals within seconds of Devlyn’s breakthrough, and Freo added another two late in the quarter - highlighted by a great show of pace by Houghton to slot a goal on the run.
After Fremantle’s outstanding start, Adelaide fought back to keep Freo goalless in the second term, however the Crows were only able to manage one major for their efforts.
In the third, the Crows turned the screws further as the Darwin heat took its toll, but couldn't convert despite their dominance.
A run of seven straight behinds for the Crows was broken at the other end as Ebony Antonio set up Stephanie Cain for Fremantle’s fifth - breaking a 35 minute goalless drought for Freo.
A moment of brilliance from Filocamo, who snapped and kicked her second from 40m out, saw Fremantle stretch their lead to 19 points ahead of the final break.
In the fourth, Ashley Sharp put the result beyond doubt with two straight goals, celebrating her third with a huge first-pump.
A late charge saw the Crows close the gap with goals to Chelsea Randall and Ebony Maranoff, but Fremantle held on to secure the win on a historic day for women’s football.
Dana Hooker, a recently elected member of Fremantle’s leadership group, was delighted with how the side performed in their first hit-out together, but noted the big step up to AFLW level.
“The first half was possibly one of the toughest it’s ever been for me in footy,” Hooker said.
“It was hot and the sun was beaming down, it was just hard work in the first half.
“We’re really pleased with the preparation and how we executed, but there’s still some finer points we need to touch up on.
“But our effort and our intent out on the ground, it was just big ticks all round and we’re very happy.”
Freo Best: Houghton, Davidson, Sharp, Haynes, O’Sullivan
Freo Goals: Sharp (3), Filocamo (2), Devlyn, Houghton, Cain
