There were mixed emotions for Fremantle vice-captain Gabby Newton following a 1-point loss to top eight side Sydney on Sunday in the Club’s final game of the home-and-away season.
Newton was disappointed by the loss but says there are plenty of positives to take out of the game despite missing finals for a second straight season.
The clash with Sydney was a chance to celebrate retiring teammate Ash Brazill, 75-gamer Emma O’Driscoll, and the first game for debutant Evie Parker.
“It was disappointing to go down, and by one point is a bit heartbreaking but I thought we did a great job to really be brave today considering all the milestones and all the emotions that were going into the game,” Newton said.
“I thought the girls did a great job to just level out, play with freedom, play with a bit of fun, but yeah, heartbreaking to not get the win.”
“So proud of the girls for standing up, there were so many different roles being played out on the field, and to never give up and to keep fighting, I thought it was really impressive.”
“I thought we were going to get away with it at the end there but that's footy for you.”
The match was special for three players celebrating different stages of their careers, in particular, Ash Brazill running out for her last AFLW game after announcing her retirement earlier in the season.
“I actually just like pinched myself that I got to play with her, to be honest and I think all of us at Freo are just really grateful that we got to witness the end of just an enormous career where she pioneered female athletes in Australia,” Newton said.
“To have this experience with her and to be able to be on the ground with her for her final professional game as a player, I'm just so proud of her.”
“She’s just a ripper human being and I’m really excited for her to go down that coaching route. She's been great for our young players around here so you can sort of see Coach Braz coming out at times. What a great human, I think we're just all lucky to have been part of her journey. “
The AFLW program will quickly switch focus to preparations for their 2027 campaign but not before spending some time reflecting on this season during the next few weeks.
“I think we'll definitely be sticking together as a whole program and that includes our staff and our players. We'll wrap up and reflect individually and as a program about where we can be better and what we did well as well throughout the year,” Newton said.
“Then we'll be able to put this season to bed and focus on next year, but I think there’s a lot to be excited about, we've got some exciting pieces in place, and we'll just see how we can apply that heading into next season.”
