Fremantle have confirmed their first squad of 24 for their opening match of the 2026 AFLW season at Cockburn ARC Oval on Sunday 16 August, with two confirmed debuts and four other potential debutants.
As confirmed by the Club on Tuesday, Irish recruit Aoife Healy will make her AFLW debut after moving from her homeland in Cork, Ireland, to Fremantle in May.
Healy has been named at centre half-back, with veteran Ash Brazill and Sarah Verrier on either flank.
Joining Healy in purple for the first time on Sunday will be star recruit Eden Zanker, who has been named at full-forward for her Club debut.
The premiership forward joined Fremantle from Melbourne in last year’s trade period, and her powerful marking and strong overhead ability rarely sees her lose a contest.
The extended eight-person bench includes Mia Anderson, Matilda Banfield, Charli Hazlehurst, Megan Kauffman, Tunisha Kikoak, Lily Johnson, Evie Parker and Indi Strom.
All Australian ruck Mim Strom will play her 75th consecutive AFLW game, earning life membership with the Club, while inaugural Fremantle player Hayley Miller will line up at centre-half-forward in her 93rd game, as she inches closer to becoming the first Freo Docker to reach the 100-game milestone.
The extended bench will be trimmed to five players on Friday, with the final team named at 3.00pm WST, where another debutant could be confirmed.
Sunday’s clash will commence at 12.35pm WST at Cockburn ARC Oval.
While Cockburn ARC Oval has previously hosted AFL and AFLW pre-season matches, Fremantle’s opening home game of the season will be the first time an official AFLW home-and-away match is played at the venue.
