Women's Footy AFLW Season Seven
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You've been to training right?, any knowledge if Wielstra has been trialled in defense?
DRAGONS FFC - Moderator
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AFLW: Coaching group set for Season 7
Fremantle will head into Season 7 with a new coaching group that has significant experience playing and coaching at AFLW and WAFLW level
AFLW: Fremantle Dockers not worried after AFLW pre-season belting at hands of Richmond
Eliza ReillyThe West Australian
Sat, 6 August 2022 3:50PM
Eliza Reilly
Janelle Cuthbertson clears defence. Credit: Tom Fee/Fremantle FC
Write us off at your peril.
That’s the message from Fremantle AFLW coach Trent Cooper after his side went down by 63 points to Richmond in their first pre-season hit-out on Saturday.
Without their two best players in Kiara Bowers (H&S protocols) and Hayley Miller (calf) the Dockers were lacking significant midfield firepower and managed the game time of their other stars.
The result was a 10.11 (71) to 1.2 (8) defeat, Fremantle managing just one goal courtesy of draftee Megan Kauffman who is firming for a round one debut after a strong performance through the midfield and forward line.
Despite Richmond’s domination, Cooper said the scratch match wasn’t an indication of what Fremantle will produce this season.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve won one pre-season game,” he said.
“It’s not to say that we were a little bit disappointing today and we do need to improve. But we’re pretty confident and our supporters should be confident that come round one, we’ll be giving a really good account of ourselves.”
Fremantle believe their deficiencies against the Tigers are quick fixes as the they prepare to face West Coast on Saturday in a formal pre-season practice match.
“It gave us a few things to work on down back,” Cooper said.
“We were really disappointed with their contest in the air which is usually a strength of ours and our experienced players probably didn’t get the job done in that area.
Jess Low dashes away from her opponent. Credit: Tom Fee/Fremantle FC
“Supply was a factor in the forward line and we found it difficult to lock the ball in there. We didn’t have our best side out there and to be honest, a physically strong side out there for a lot of the time to do that.
“I think our young midfielders can play some really good football for us this year but when they had to be the main ones in there, they’re not quite ready to do that.”
Bowers and defender Sarah Verrier (H&S protocols) should be fit to tackle the Eagles while the Dockers are taking a conservative approach with Miller in the lead up to round one.
The Dockers also have until August 23 — the cut-off date to move players onto the inactive list — to make a decision on veteran Kara Antonio who is recovering from hamstring surgery.
“We’ll give it some time so we can make the best decision closer to the day. If she can’t play, she’s already signed up as our forwards coach so we’re lucky to have her in that role,” Cooper said.
West Coast continue their pre-season preparation in a scratch match against Hawthorn on Sunday.
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- #124
Bit of rookie hazing…
