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The Fremantle Dockers are finals bound after soundly beating the North Melbourne Kangaroos by 27-points at Fremantle Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Fremantle started well into the breeze, putting two goals on the board early in the first term.
North Melbourne hit back early in the second through Kaitlyn Ashmore, before Fremantle hit back with two more goals.
The margin was 19-points at the main break, a deficit North were only able to reduce by four-points despite throwing everything at the Dockers.
Fremantle pressed hard in the final term, kicking two goals and six behinds; it became a convincing victory which sees them qualify for finals, a proud day for the football club.
Moana Hope kicked one final goal for the Roos, but it was too late for a fight back.
The final margin of 27-points a smashing, with the Dockers having 16 shots at goal to North’s five.
Kiara Bowers continued her brilliant year of footy with a 23 disposal, 13 tackle performance.
Ashley Sharp and Sabrina Duffy both kicked two goals, while Ashlee Atkins managed one goal with three behinds.
Fremantle had 38 inside 50s to North’s 21, but were beaten in hit-outs and clearances.
Jenna Bruton (26 disposals, 6 tackles) and Emma Kearney (24 disposals, 1 goal, 7 tackles) tried to get things going for the Roos, while Hope kicked two goals.
A couple of injury concerns for the Dockers, Sabreena Duffy did not take part in the final quarter after an ankle injury, she was still with trainers at the end of the match.
Dana Hooker also went down with what was at first feared to be a knee injury, luckily though she assured Channel Seven post-match it was just a corkie and she should be right for finals.
That’s season 2019 done for the Kangaroos, unfortunately after suffering just two losses they find themselves outside the top two in Conference A and their first year in the AFLW is done.
Fremantle will wait to see the outcomes of tomorrow’s games to determine where they will travel to play a preliminary final.
Final score
Fremantle Dockers 7.9.52
North Melbourne Kangaroos 4.1.25
In what is an elimination final without the title, the Fremantle Dockers will host the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Fremantle Oval on Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the clash from 7:10pm AEDT.
Unfortunately, for one of the form teams this year in Conference A, a loss this weekend will see them drop out of the top two and end their season in abrupt fashion.
There is one scenario in which they both make finals, but it requires Melbourne to beat the Crows and then a draw to follow in this clash between the Dockers and Roos.
Fremantle kept themselves in the hunt last Saturday with a strong victory over Geelong, who were trying to secure their own finals position.
Keeping the Cats scoreless in the second half, and adding four goals, 11 behinds to their own score, the Dockers pushed the lead out to a percentage-boosting win at GMHBA Stadium.
The Kangaroos are also coming off the back of a solid 22-point win over the struggling Collingwood Magpies.
It saw North Melbourne jump into top position for a brief moment, before the Crows took it back, and for at least the first three quarters it was a complete performance against the weakest side in the competition.
What is most exciting for fans, is that it does come down to these Round 7 games.
As expected late in the season, and with so much riding on the game, both coaching groups have only made one change to their teams ahead of this weekend.
Fremantle were forced to take Alex Williams out of the side after she ruptured her ACL in the team’s win over Geelong last Saturday.
Kellie Gibson who missed last weekend’s trip with concussion has recovered and is back in the side.
North Melbourne have brought in Nicole Bresnehan, returning from a wrist injury. Defender Beth Lynch has been omitted.
Prediction
After two tough years near the bottom of the ladder, the Fremantle Dockers have clicked and certainly fired on the field this season.
Fighting with newbies North Melbourne for that top two position, this one will be very close.
Expect the match to have several momentum swings, but come the final siren it will be the Kangaroos who are up and go through to the preliminary final.
Kangaroos by 3 points.
Venue: Fremantle Oval, Fremantle
Time: 7:10pm AEDT
TV: Fox Footy, Seven Network
Betting: Fremantle $1.94, North Melbourne $1.86
Fremantle Dockers
B: Sabreena Duffy, Tayla Bresland, Ange Stannett
HB: Kara Donnellan, Evie Gooch, Philipa Seth
C: Kiara Bowers
HF: Ashlee Atkins, Ebony Antonio, Hayley Miller
F: Kellie Gibson, Gemma Houghton, Ashley Sharp
Foll: Parris Laurie, Dana Hooker, Stephanie Cain
I/C: Leach Mascall, Alicia Janz, Gabby O’Sullivan, Matilda Sergeant, Mel Caulfield
North Melbourne
B: Jasmine Grierson, Danielle Hardiman, Jess Trend
HB: Jess Duffin, Tahlia Randall, Brittany Gibson
C: Emma Kearney
HF: Kate Gillespie-Jones, Jasmine Garner, Sophie Abbatangelo
F: Daria Bannister, Moana Hope, Kaitlyn Ashmore
Foll: Emma King, Jamie Stanton, Jenna Bruton
I/C: Taylor Mesiti, Elisha King, Alison Drennan, Daisy Bateman, Nicole Bresnehan
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