FREMANTLE posted a gritty seven-point win over West Coast in the AFLW this weekend, taking their derby tally to 7-nil. 

On a blustery Freo afternoon, the Dockers came from one point behind at three-quarter-time to beat the Eagles in a low-scoring affair. 

Kiara Bowers, Orlagh Lally, and Hayley Miller notched up Fremantle’s goals, and the former two managed 21 and 24 disposals respectively. 

Irish recruit Lally, who has played for the Dockers since 2022, was rewarded for her efforts with the AFLW Derby Medal for her best on ground performance, which also included six inside 50 kicks. 

Dockers veteran Gabby O’Sullivan, who notched up a respectable 17 disposals, says the team played well “across the board” against an in-form West Coast side which has won three games against Fremantle’s two. 

• Orlagh Lally was best on ground.

“We haven’t had a win at home this year yet, so to have out family and friends here after a really hard-fought win is spectacular,” O’Sullivan said. 

“We knew it was going to be wet and windy, Fremantle always is, but we knew that if we just stayed over the contested ball and hunted the footy all day that we’d be right in it.

“It started to rain there in the last quarter, which I think suits us really well, and we had that breeze in the fourth so [it was] well-played by us.” 

O’Sullivan heaped praise on her teammate Lally, saying she played “phenomenally” in her first medal-winning game in a Derby.  

“I’m so proud of her… she had 18 touches in the first half, which really helped us set up the game,” O’Sullivan said. 

“She’s committed to her footy, and to leave her family and support network in Ireland to come over here and follow her dream… she’s playing very well. 

“I’m so glad that all her hard work is now paying off.” 

The Dockers will take on Essendon at Fremantle Oval today (Saturday, September 20) at 1.05pm. 

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER