The Brisbane Lions brought the heat in their win against the Fremantle Dockers. (Image: @lionsaflw / Twitter)
The Brisbane Lions have come out on top in their battle against a very different Fremantle Dockers outfit as they secured their first win of Season Seven.
With the win under their belt, the Lions have sent a message to the rest of the competition and put themselves up as early contenders for the premiership this season.
What began as a tight-scoring affair in the opening minutes of the game quickly saw Brisbane capitalise on a more inexperienced side to snatch the win at the Gabba. Catherine Svarc set the wheels in motion for her team as she kicked the Lions’ first goal.
Despite an early goal from Dockers’ debutant Amy Mulholland who snuck in with a goal, it wasn’t enough to fend off the in-form opponents.
Right from the start of the game, the Lions bought the defensive pressure. Last season’s best and fairest winner, Emily Bates was particularly dependable in this department with six tackles to her name. She also had 19 disposals and six clearances throughout the contest.
Along with Bates, her Lions counterparts Greta Bodey and Jesse Wardlaw also delivered in the side’s upset against Fremantle. Bodey and Wardlaw had plenty of influential on the field as they combined for four goals in the match.
Already coming into the game without key players, Ebony Antonio and Kara Antonio, Fremantle unveiled a rather inexperienced side. This was highlighted by having four debutants being fielded in the game.
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They also had multiple names added to the injury list with both Jessica Lowe (concussion) and Janelle Cuthbertson (facial injury) exiting the game early.
However, Brisbane’s win was soured by the loss of Lily Postlethwaite early in the game. What was meant to be homecoming for the 20-year-old who hadn’t played in the AFLW for 533 days, was anything but after she went down early in the first.
The Lions will be waiting nervously to find out the extent of Postlethwaite’s injury in the coming week.
Fremantle’s tough fixture continues as they prepare to battle Geelong in six days time, meanwhile Brisbane plays the GWS Giants on Sunday.
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