AFLW: Fremantle captain Kara Donnellan inspires side to unlikely win over Carlton

FREMANTLE skipper Kara Donnellan hasn’t stopped trying all season. But for the first time her efforts were truly rewarded.

FREMANTLE skipper Kara Donnellan hasn’t stopped trying all season.

But for the first time her efforts were truly rewarded.

When the siren sounded, the Dockers had prevailed by 16 points, all but extinguishing Carlton’s chances of making a grand final.

Donnellan was warrior-like, her 24 touches eight more than any other player on the ground.

Even when she didn’t have the ball, she threw herself at the contest, recording a game-high eight tackles.

If we extrapolate those numbers to the length of a men’s game, that’s roughly: 38 touches, 13 tackles and three goals. Not bad.

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Kara Donnellan lays one of her eight tackles. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“It’s been a tough first five rounds and to get the win, to do it in that fashion, all 22 girls weighed in,” Donnellan told Fox Footy after the match.

“I’m really proud of the girls and really, really happy.

“I didn’t want to lose that one from there and neither did the 22 girls so kudos to them.”

Exasperated. Ecstatic. Exhausted.

Donnellan’s face after the match told two tales. The first was of jubilation. After all, this was Fremantle’s first AFLW win.

But belying that joy was a sense of relief. Fremantle had entered the season as favourites. And in that respect they had failed dismally.

Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan shared the same emotions, and singled out Donnellan for her inspirational performance.

The Fremantle skipper — affectionately known as “Juddy” — kicked the sealer and put the game beyond doubt with only minutes remaining in the final term. It was the icing on top of a mouth-watering performance.

“It’s reward for all of the effort the girls have put in right from the start of the preseason in November,” Cowan told Fox Footy.

“They’ve had a draw, they’ve had a one-point (loss). And now, to get the taste of victory, I reckon they’ll want to taste that a lot more as well.

“It was really lead from the front by the captain. A sensational effort by her today.

“She had close to 10 tackles, 14 contested possessions. She’s a fabulous leader and certainly sets the benchmark for the competition.”

Originally published as AFLW: Fremantle captain Kara Donnellan inspires side to unlikely win over Carlton