It was the kind of win that defines a team’s character, and after two weeks on the road, Fremantle dug deep to claim a thrilling five-point victory over Melbourne on Sunday afternoon at home in front of the Purple Army.

Defender Emma O’Driscoll spoke post-match and said the result was one that the group had been building towards.

“It was a hustle, it was a grind, but it feels so good, and I feel like it's been a long time coming,” O’Driscoll said.

“It’s not easy losing on the road the last couple of weeks, so to be able to go out there today and put together that real team performance was unreal.”

O’Driscoll highlighted captain Ange Stannett’s match winning goal, and said it was the little moments that made the difference.

“Ange’s goal was so good, and the best part about it was that it all started from Gabby Newton's spoil,” she said.

“Those little one-percenters really do add up.

“Ange is our main one-percent player, so it’s really nice when she can get on the scoreboard because she just does all the hard work all day.

“She’s tackling, she’s smothering, so for her to get on the end of one was really good, and I loved the celebration.”

O’Driscoll was full of praise for Phil Seth and Indi West, who played pivotal roles against Melbourne’s Kate Hore and Maeve Chaplin.

“Phil, you just know what you’re going to get from her each and every week,” O’Driscoll said.

“For her to go on Kate Hore, one of the best players in the competition, was sensational. She laid that tackle and I think that just changed the momentum of the game to know that she's there to lock her down.

“Indi West on Chaplin, (who’s) been unbelievable for Melbourne all year. For Indi to compete with her in the air and on the ground, her tackle pressure was elite.

“It’s just something that lifts the whole group.”

O’Driscoll couldn’t help but marvel at the performance of Kiara Bowers, as she amassed 27 disposals for the day, with 14 of them in the fourth quarter alone, alongside a massive 17 tackles.

“The way she just works and works is incredible, and that’s why she’s one of our best leaders and role models. We absolutely love having her out there.

“The fact that she then gets off the park and breastfeeds, what a superwoman.”

The unity in Fremantle’s backline, O’Driscoll said, was one of the keys to holding off Melbourne’s late surge.

“Everyone just took their moments,” she said.

“There were so many times where the ball came in and all of us just backed each other in to win the one-on-one.

“(Ash) Braz took a phenomenal mark in that last quarter; Indi Strom played on Tayla Harris all day and just got it to ground — it was so good. Gabba (Biedenweg-Webster), who normally plays forward, was down there.”

For O’Driscoll, her bond with fellow backline teammate Laura Pugh goes beyond football.

“Pughy’s my best mate, but it’s even better that we get to be teammates as well,” she said.

“She’s in the backline with me and she’s ever reliable, the general back there.

“She sets us up a lot of the time, but she just gets it done no matter what.”

“She’s got a golden fist and always manages to get a spoil in there. I absolutely love her — her comms just set the group up for success.”

As the second week of Pride Round commences, Fremantle will travel to Sydney as they prepare to face the GWS Giants in Round 10 of the 2025 NAB AFLW Season.

“I love this jumper, it's amazing, and I love being an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community,” O’Driscoll said.

“It's really special and to have special guests come in and speak to us about it, but also our boys and our whole cCub design this jumper and draw these love hearts is really special.”