AFLW – Round 3: Fremantle v Collingwood – Another Freo win and we hear the fans

EbonyEyes

All eyes on Ebony. All photos by Les Everett.

 

The Dockers were in complete control but still the feeling of calm satisfaction that had overcome me was surprising. Then I realised the extra element – the sound system was down. No mindless music after home-team goals, no exaltations to MAKE SOME NOISE. Just crowd noise, real footy atmosphere.

 

Fremantle scored goals from their first two forward 50 entries in the first quarter but Collingwood did well into the breeze and kept things in check.

 

However scoring into the wind has been a feature for the new-look Freo. They kicked three in the second quarter, the best coming after an astonishing Ashlee Atkins handpass set up Dana Hooker. Collingwood tried to take advantage of the conditions but the pressure, tackling and ball use by the Dockers was superior.

 

Fremantle seemed to get the best of the umpires in the first half but consecutive 50-metre penalties early in the third handed Collingwood their first goal, through Sarah D’Arcy, and was some compensation to the visitors.

 

The second half was a bit of a struggle – two goals apiece as the Magpies improved and the Dockers tended to blaze away.

 

SethHandpass

Freo’s Philipa Seth, under pressure from Cecilia McIntosh, gets the ball out to Alex Williams.

 

The stars Ebony Antonio, Kara Donnellan and Hooker were again good for Fremantle: Antonio kicked two goals and her effectiveness despite lots of attention was impressive; hard running Philipa Seth has been a very useful addition to the team; Kellie Gibson also kicked two goals and is a classy player; Parris Laurie often won the ball at stoppages and Evie Gooch stopped a lot of attacking moves.

 

D’Arcy was active for Collingwood as was Brittany Bonnici, who had a good battle with Hooker, and Ash Brazill took some knocks in putting her body on the line.

 

The sound system came on during the third quarter break. It wasn’t me that pulled the plug…

 

Gibsonkick

Kellie Gibson slots Fremantle’s only goal for the last quarter.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE

About Les Everett

A Footy Almanac veteran, Les Everett is the author of Gravel Rash: 100 Years of Goldfields Football and Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History. He is the footyalmanac.com WAFL correspondent and uses the money he makes from that role to pay for his expensive websites australianrules.com.au and talkingfrankie.com and fund the extravagant Vin Maskell at scoreboardpressure.com

Comments

  1. Lorri Fletcher says

    A nice sum up Les and good photos.
    Are you sure it wasn’t you who pulled the plug and blew up the mix desk?
    The team song sounded terrible (if you could actually hear it). Hopefully they improve the sound for next game.
    I managed to meet the Sirens at The Norfolk for lunch, see the game AND make it in time to see the Pigrams at the Broome to Bicton concert, thanks to a helpful husband who went down at 4.30 to get a good spot.
    A good Saturday all round.

  2. Another interesting thing about the sound is the DJ drowned out the drummers at the start of proceedings. A good sound system used sparingly is the key. My main message to the DJ would be… shut up.

    Oh and the Pigrams… I reckon they’re the best band in Australia and Saturday’s effort reinforced that for me.

    And yeah I didn’t pull the plug.. but I’d love to know where it is…

Leave a Comment

*