Fremantle have confirmed their first team of 21 for their opening match of the 2026 AFLW season at Cockburn ARC Oval on Sunday 16 August, with a final debutant confirmed for the clash with Port Adelaide.
Lily Johnson will make her Club debut on Sunday following her trade from the Demons alongside Eden Zanker last year.
Johnson had played 19 senior AFLW games and kicked three goals before her move west, and on Sunday will line up in purple for the very first time.
Johnson will start on the bench alongside Indi Strom, Matilda Banfield, Tuniosha Kikoak, and Meg Kauffman.
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.
Zanker, who rounds out the debutants for Fremantle in Round 1, has been named at full-forward.
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.
Charli Hazelhurst, Mia Anderson and Evie Parker will be the emergencies for the clash.
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 Fremantle AFLW player to reach the 100-game milestone.
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.
To learn more about the venue and all of the activities happening on game day, head over to the AFLW Match Day Hub.
