The below feature appears in the latest issue of Docker magazine. Click here to view the full issue. 

The NAB AFL Women’s competition may have wrapped up in March, but that doesn’t mean there’s an off-season for Fremantle’s AFLW players.

For two nights a week, you could find up to six Freo players training hard at East Fremantle Oval with the East Fremantle Sharks.

Brianna Green, Gabby O’Sullivan, Mel Caulfield, Cassie Davidson, Belinda Smith and new signing Alex Williams, train alongside their East Freo teammates and occasionally their under 18s counterparts.

In total, there are more than 130 registered players from the three grades on East Fremantle’s list alone, and Green says the rising profile of women’s football has seen standards and expectations lift across the board.

It’s a sign of a complete pathway at work as Freo’s AFLW players bring their training and education methods back to the local leagues - and women’s football starts to benefit from the flow-on effects of an elite national competition.

“(Senior coach) Michelle (Cowan) recommended that we did a lot of touch work before training and it’s helped having those girls around me,” Green said.

“Especially when we do extra running sessions on top of our training.”

“It’s been great having them around me for encouragement. Having that elite standard around me definitely helps.”

Green says these benefits aren’t limited to just her and her AFLW teammates.

She highlighted Kate Inglis-Hodge, the captain of East Fremantle’s U18s side, who is making the most of the opportunity to work alongside some of the best female footballers in Australia.

Inglis-Hodge is a couple of years away from being eligible for the AFLW Draft, but Green said this hasn’t stopped the 16-year-old from making the most of the experience.

“We’re seeing all of the girls stepping up their general training standards across the club,” Green said.

“The youth girls have been training with us senior girls, which is a great sign for the future at East Freo.

“One week we trained on Sunday as we had a bye and Kate was there and raring to go.

“She’s very elite for someone who’s only 16. I definitely wasn’t as mature as she was at her age.

“I’m always very impressed talking to her, whenever you pass on some advice, she takes it on board.

“She’s a very coachable player which at times is hard to come by.

“If she keeps up with that elite attitude and the way that she goes about her training, I think she has a bright future.”

Inglis-Hodge said she has hopes to add to the already high number of East Freo players at AFLW level.

“Playing AFLW is the aim, I just need to keep working hard,” Inglis–Hodge said.

“I always have a chat with Freo’s AFLW players at East Fremantle, especially Brianna who’s been fantastic.

“It’s pretty incredible to see how the AFLW girls train and I get to pick up a few tips and tricks from them along the way.”

And Inglis-Hodge has been spreading her own knowledge to girls who are just taking up the game.

On Tuesday 25 July, Victor George Kailis Oval at Freo’s training facility in Cockburn Central was buzzing as the future of female football in WA came together with a crop of current Freo stars at the Fremantle Conference female open day.

About 100 junior girls footballers from the East and South Fremantle districts attended the clinic, which was hosted by Freo’s Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Joel Hamling, Danyle Pearce, Lachie Weller, Tommy Sheridan, Nick Suban, Brady Grey and Cam McCarthy.


Approximately 100 junior girls footballers attended a clinic at Victor George Kailis Oval 

The Freo players ran the clinics alongside the youth girls leaders from East and South Fremantle, which included Inglis-Hodge.

“It was really great to have so many girls down from different ages,” Inglis-Hodge said.

“The talent coming through is incredible, there’s so much hope for the future in women’s AFL after the inaugural season. Seeing the talent pathway working is incredible.”

While spending the afternoon with the likes of Fyfe and Mundy would be exciting for any football fan, it was just the icing on the cake for Inglis-Hodge, whose passion for women’s football shone through as she looked around an oval teeming with young talented football players.

“A couple of years ago you would never have imagined this could happen or to get this much interest in football from the girls,” Inglis-Hodge said.

“Being able to come out here and run drills with them and looking around at everyone, it’s incredible to see how much participation there is and how much interest there is in the women’s game as well.”

Green, who grew up idolising male footballers, isn’t taking her position lightly as one of the first female Freo players.

“It’s something that I don’t take for granted,” Green said.

“I’m always striving to be the best role model that I can be.

“I remember growing up I used to look up to some players – so I don’t take this for granted that there are girls looking up to me, so I want to try and be the best player that I can.”

A special thanks to Phil Barnes Photography.