AFLW 2025: Fremantle win second in a row thanks to 48-point victory over Essendon

Fremantle have produced their best performance of the AFLW season to storm back within touching distance of the top eight off the back of a 48-point dismantling of Essendon.

On a sunny day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, the Dockers were red-hot as they held the Bombers goalless for the first three quarters en route to a confidence-boosting 9.2 (56) to 1.2 (8) victory.

Fremantle dominated inside both arcs and at the coalface, with a superb midfield marshalled by the evergreen Kiara Bowers — who finished with an astonishing 21 tackles, one shy of her own record — setting the platform for victory.

“She’s an incredible person, she drives really high standard she’s an incredible player, and I think she’s only getting better as well,” Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said of Bowers post-game.

“That’s exciting for her, and obviously for our team, it’s really great to have a player, but also a mum that is really tough on-field, and has got a great balance off the field and leads the way with a lot of our younger players as well.”

Gabby Newton was excellent alongside the veteran with 27 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 tackles and nine intercepts.

Meanwhile, Aisling McCarthy (24 disposals, eight inside 50s) was similarly impressive and Mim Strom dominant in the ruck (23 hit-outs) and around the ground (19 disposals).

“We had to work through a few things on in-game and for us to be able to navigate those, keep building, understanding what the game’s throwing at us and how we can put our plan in place and execute was something that I’m really pleased with,” Webb said.

“As I said, steps in the right direction, but still a fair way to go.”

Their three-game losing streak now seems but a distant memory, with the win pushing Fremantle back to a 50-50 record this season and relieving yet more pressure on what was a

Essendon were patient and careful in bringing the ball up the ground early, but when Fremantle were able to prise the ball free, they were quicker to react – and punish.

Aisling McCarthy kicked the game’s opening goal from the pocket off the back of a quick kick inside 50 off a contested ball, and a little over 60 seconds later, she had another from long range.

The Irishwoman was then pivotal in the Dockers’ third goal, with her rangy kick inside the arc plucked from the air by Gabby Newton, who in turn found Georgie Brisbane for her first career goal.

When Gabby O’Sullivan tumbled a kick forward off-balance and the bounce favoured her to make it five in a row for the Dockers, it looked like Fremantle’s day.

The visitors were able to stem the bleeding in the second quarter and arrest the stoppage dominance that had served the Dockers well in the first quarter, but Fremantle were clinical when chances came their way.

Newton’s set-shot from distance just dipped over outstretched hands on the goal-line, while Gabby Biedenweg-Webster’s similar effort extended the lead to 36 points at half-time.

By contrast, Bonnie Toogood’s behind, registered 12 and a half minutes into the second term, was the Bombers’ only point til half-time.

The hosts were in party mode after the break; Indiana West was rewarded with her career-first goal after taking a courageous mark on the goal-line before slotting the resultant snap kick, and a ‘FREO’ chant was conjured up from the crowd.

Daria Bannister finally grabbed Essendon’s first goal of the game six minutes into the final quarter, but further Fremantle goals to Hayley Miller and a career-first major for Matilda Banfield put the icing on the cake.

SCOREBOARD

FREMANTLE 4.0 6.1 7.1 9.2 (56)

ESSENDON 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.2 (8)

Goals – FREMANTLE: A McCarthy 2 P Stockwell G O’Sullivan G Newton H Miller G Brisbane G Biedenwag-Webster M Bandifeild ESSENDON: D Bannister

Best – FREMANTLE: A McCarthy M Strom K Bowers G Newton ESSENDON: G Nanscawen M Prespakis S Wales B Toogood

Crowd: TBA at Fremantle Community Bank Oval