Incredible record falls in AFLW Perth blockbuster

THE AFLW has set a new record for the biggest ever crowd at a stand-alone women’s domestic sporting event.

History.

A RECORD crowd of 41,975 has watched Fremantle beat Collingwood by 13 points in a fiery AFLW clash at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Collingwood kicked the first two goals but Fremantle dominated from that point to secure the 6.4 (40) to 4.3 (27) win.

Although 54,000 tickets were sold for the match at $2 each, more than 12,000 people didn’t show.

But there were still easily enough to smash the previous crowd record for an AFLW match — the 24,500 who watched last season’s opener between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park.

And the record for a stand alone women’s domestic game in Australia was also broken.

That obscure record was set in 1929, when 41,000 fans attended an exhibition game at Adelaide Oval between employees from a department store and a pyjama factory.

The huge level of interest for Saturday’s game was largely sparked by Perth’s new $1.5 billion stadium.

But fans new to women’s football were treated to a spectacle featuring plenty of biff and a good number of goals.

The new Perth Stadium has been a huge winner with the locals.

“It was an incredible occasion and a really special day for our football club and women’s sport as a whole,” Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan said.

“Certainly in that fourth quarter the chant of Freo — when that went up, it was really special.”

Fremantle’s physical approach was clear from the outset and star Collingwood defender Chloe Molloy was one of the biggest targets.

When listing his team’s injuries, Magpies coach Wayne Siekman said Molloy finished with a “bruised jaw and bruised ribs” in a not-too-subtle dig at Fremantle’s tactics.

“So she obviously got fairly well belted up today,” he said. “It was pretty heated and they came with a pretty big plan.

“Why wouldn’t you go after a pretty significant talent — a rising star from round one.

“She’s a special talent and got herself back up and won a few more contested marks ... and kept getting whacked and kept getting back up.” Molloy finished with 15 disposals to be among Collingwood’s best, while Fremantle’s Dana Hooker (20 possessions, two goals) was best afield. The Magpies are winless after two rounds; Fremantle are 1-1.

Originally published as Incredible record falls in AFLW Perth blockbuster