Fremantle has confirmed its final team of 21 to take on Essendon in Round 6 of the NAB AFLW Season this Saturday 20 September, headlined by a debutant in Poppy Stockwell.
Stockwell was signed in April as a replacement player for Ebony Antonio, and has been named on the interchange bench, replacing Amy Mulholland who has been omitted for the clash.
Tilly Banfield, Indi West, Holly Ifould and Tunisha Kikoak round out Fremantle’s interchange bench.
Defender Jess Low will miss this weekend’s clash with remaining concussion symptoms, while Phil Seth, Dana East and Bella Smith are the Club's three emergencies.
Hailing from South Fremantle Football Club, Stockwell had a stand-out 2024 WAFLW Season and was named the Club’s Fairest and Best winner as well as the Club’s Leading Goalkicker, booting 20 goals across 13 games.
Head of AFLW Claire Heffernan said she was pleased for Poppy, who will run out in purple for the first time.
“We’re absolutely thrilled for Poppy to get her opportunity this weekend,” Heffernan said.
“Her journey from elite-level cricketer to AFLW player has been truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to watch her take the next step by making her debut on Saturday.
“Poppy has shown a lot of growth since arriving at the Club; she listens, takes on feedback and applies it on the track.
“It’s a credit to Poppy the amount of dedication and commitment she brings to the way she approaches her football.”
Senior Coach Lisa Webb spoke to media on Thursday morning, reflecting on the side’s RAC Derby win on the weekend, and looked ahead to the Essendon match-up.
“I thought it was a strong game, really competitive – and we love playing in those conditions,” Webb said on the RAC Derby.
“Getting in front of our home crowd was something we were really pleased to be back in front of and getting (another) opportunity this week against Essendon as well.”
“(Essendon) are three (wins) and two (losses), they’ve been in good form and lost their last couple, but I’m sure they’ll be fiercely determined to be better again this week.
“We always have a great battle against them, (they’re) a highly respected group and really well coached.”
The two sides faced each other twice last season, in Round 1 and in an Elimination Final, which saw Fremantle victorious in both clashes.
Fremantle booted 10 goals in Round 1 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season, which saw them win 64 (10.4) to Essendon’s 21 (3.3), and then went on to win in the thriller Elimination Final at home by 10 points.
Bouncedown on Saturday is at 1.05pm WST at Fremantle Oval.
The game will be broadcast live on 7mate and Fox Sports, and streamed live on Kayo, Binge and 7plus from 1pm WST.
