Fremantle will play AFLW finals after 27-point win against North Melbourne
North Melbourne won two more games than the top team in Conference B but has missed out the finals after an inspired Fremantle stormed to its first AFLW premiership campaign.
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Fremantle stormed into a maiden AFLW finals series with a 27-point win over a star-studded North Melbourne outfit at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday.
The Dockers, who struggled in their first two years in the competition, are now set to play in a preliminary final on the road next weekend, despite winning at least two more games than their opponents due to the lopsided conference system.
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But they will sweat on the availability of their most important players after gun midfielder Dana Hooker (corked quad) and exciting forward Sabreena Duffy (ankle) both limped off late in the match.
Premiership favourite Adelaide thrashed Melbourne earlier in the day to guarantee they would finish top of conference A and have hosting rights in the first week of finals as Fremantle and the Kangaroos battled it out for second spot.
While there were some tense moments for the home team, they never looked like being beaten as they strangled North Melbourne’s scoring opportunities.
Kiara Bowers (22 disposals, seven clearances, 13 tackles) was again a huge contributor as Fremantle sealed the 7.10 (52) to 4.1 (25) victory in front of close to 6500 fans.
Ebony Antonio was a rock in defence after being sent back to cover the loss of Alex Williams, while Duffy booted two majors before her day ended in the third quarter.
North skipper Emma Kearney (24 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) did all she did to drag her side over the line, combining beautifully with WA ruck star Emma King (32 hitouts).
The Dockers got the hot start, with Gemma Houghton and Duffy goaling in the first quarter as the visitors were kept scoreless.
North responded with the opening goal of the second term before Fremantle bit back with two of their own to take a 19-point lead into the long break.
Mo Hope gave her side the perfect start to the third term when she converted a difficult set shot before Kearney came up with an inspirational effort from the boundary to bring her side within eight points.
But the Dockers responded again with Ashley Sharp running into an open goal as they took the 15-point edge at three-quarter-time.
Whatever charge the Kangaroos had planned was snuffed out when the home side booted consecutive goals to start the quarter and put the result beyond doubt.