Dockers tackle Magpies senseless in AFLW

Fremantle have unleashed a tackling masterclass to post a crushing 31-point AFLW win over Collingwood at Victoria Park.

The Dockers dominated the inside 50m count 40-10 and won the tackles 76-49 on the way to the 5.8 (38) to 1.1 (7) win on Thursday.

Fremantle won an astounding 17 holding-the-ball free kicks, and Collingwood were held scoreless after Brittany Bonnici scored their only goal of the match at the eight-minute mark of the second term.

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The result was a major wake-up call for the Magpies, who had entered the match with a 3-0 record and were being talked up as premiership contenders.

Fremantle are now 4-0 and well placed for a major assault on the flag.

The victory would have been far greater if it wasn’t for Collingwood’s dogged defence, which repelled Fremantle time and again before the damn wall burst open in the final term.

Fremantle skipper Hayley Miller was the star of the show with two goals from 19 disposals, while Kiara Bowers tallied 26 possessions.

Aine Tighe (14 disposals, six marks) starred at half-back opposed to Collingwood forward Sabrina Frederick.

Bonnici was best afield for the Pies with 25 disposals and a goal, but they simply couldn’t deal with Fremantle’s intense pressure.

The Dockers are a notoriously slow-starting side, but they booted the opening goal inside a minute when Roxy Roux nailed a set shot from 35m.

The holding-the-ball free-kick count read 6-0 in favour of the away side at quarter time, and Freo continued to pile on the pressure in the second term.

Bonichi scored a goal against the run of play to briefly halt the Dockers’ momentum.

But Miller replied less than a minute later, grabbing the ball out of mid-air before nailing her shot on the run from 40m.

The inside 50m count was a whopping 14-1 for the term in favour of Fremantle, but the Dockers led by just eight points at halftime.

The trend continued in the third quarter, with Fremantle winning the inside 50m count 13-1 but managing just 0.4 to Collingwood’s 0.0.

However, the Dockers finally got reward for their effort in the final quarter, booting three unanswered goals to run away with the win.

Dockers tackle Magpies senseless in AFLW
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