After kicking the goal, Donnellan returned to the centre square and ensured the ball didn’t fall Carlton’s way. With the match still in the balance midway through the last quarter, the star Fremantle midfielder impacted several crucial stoppages and converted a challenging snap around the body the seal the victory. She failed to convert but stamped herself as an imposing option inside 50, emphasised by an intercept mark and goal later in the third term.ĭonnellan put her foot down. As the ball tracked towards a pair of Carlton defenders, Houghton soared in from the side and reeled in an improbable mark before setting herself for a shot on goal. #AFLWFreoBlues #BoundByBlue /VX9z4KQvUd- Carlton FC March 10, 2017Īthletic Fremantle utility and former basketballer Gemma Houghton made her presence felt early in the second half with a towering grab inside her attacking 50. The Dockers captain was clean in possession, explosive at stoppages and made good decisions to help her side register its second-highest score in the AFLW to date. For the home side, Kara Donnellan was best on ground with 24 disposals, eight tackles and a crucial final-quarter goal. Davey was equally damaging in her own right, reading the ball superbly to intercept a number of Fremantle’s attacking forays. She finished with three goals and extended her lead atop the AFLW goalkicking table. Manned tightly by half-back Cassie Davidson, Vescio was crafty with her body work and found open space running into goal on several occasions. Given the Crows’ superior percentage, a finals berth would still remain unlikely.Ĭarlton marquee pair Darcy Vescio and Brianna Davey were comfortably among their side’s best with influential performances at either end of the ground. Provided Carlton wins its final game, the Blues are still reliant upon the Crows losing their two remaining matches, while Melbourne would need to lose in the final round of the AFLW season. “We were dependent on a number of other results to go our way that were out of our control, but we’ve got another game next week and we’ve looked upon this season as seven games.” “We understood that we needed to keep winning, but we wanted to look for those opportunities to grow through every experience.” “I don’t think at any stage we’ve been narrowly focused on the scoreboard and the outcome of the scoreboard,” Keeping said. However, Carlton coach Damien Keeping said his team’s focus lied beyond reaching the AFLW grand final. The loss could prove damaging for the Blues, whose finals aspirations will end if Adelaide defeat Melbourne at home on Saturday afternoon. “The morale around the club has been exceptional, considering the draw and the one-point loss.”
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“They’re an incredible group that were driven all along. “They’ve worked really hard with every pre-season running session that they’ve had and the challenging start to this season.” “We drew the line in the sand essentially and wanted to make a statement,” Cowan said. Cowan praised her players’ work ethic, highlighting their determination and focus as hallmark attributes in the historic win.
The Blues broke Fremantle’s bind in the second term thanks largely to marquee selections Darcy Vescio and Brianna Davey, both of whom were influential in reducing the deficit to just four points at the long break.īut the Dockers, guilty of second-half fadeouts throughout the season, rallied strongly after half-time, registering 13 scoring shots to Carlton’s two.įremantle coach Michelle Cowan said her side needed to make a stand after last week’s one-point loss to Collingwood. The Dockers started strongly with three goals in the opening term, while restricting Carlton’s forward supply. Fremantle has defeated Carlton by 16 points to register its maiden AFLW victory in hot conditions at Domain Stadium on Friday afternoon.