AFLW 2025: Fremantle’s finals hopes suffer a blow as Carlton clinch nine-point win

Fremantle’s AFLW finals hopes have suffered a substantial blow as Carlton saw off their attempted comeback in wintery conditions to prevail by nine points at Ikon Park.

The Dockers led at half-time but despite kicking with a breeze in the final quarter, they were unable to take advantage of it when it mattered most as the Blues’ two final-term goals proved decisive in their 5.2 (32) to 3.5 (23) win on Friday.

Fremantle’s midfield triumvirate of Gabby Newton, Kiara Bowers and Aisling McCarthy almost willed the Dockers to a vital win in a bruising encounter.

But the visitors were held goalless after the main break and despite gaining territory late in the game, were unable to convert inside 50 to leave them outside the eight looking in.

With just four games to go, back-to-back matches against top-three sides Hawthorn and Melbourne in the next two weeks and Fremantle sitting 12th on the ladder, their finals hopes look uncertain at best.

“We gave ourselves at every opportunity, we won a few of the things we were really focusing on pre-game — contested possessions, ground balls, clearances — but they’re a very good team, they’re in good form and I’m disappointed we didn’t take our moments,” coach Lisa Webb said post-game.

“In really important moments of the game, we just couldn’t execute and we’ve got to keep getting better and we will, I’m really determined of that.

“We had the breeze, we just couldn’t capitalise. We ran over some footys we needed to stick, we made some poor decisions inside 50.

“We want to sit in this a bit; we want to be disappointed because that’s the only way we can find ways to keep improving and we need to be better.”

The elements played their part with a strong gust blowing towards the Garton Street end; you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a cricket match early, as the ball swung violently through the air in overcast conditions.

Carlton had the first 10 inside-50s of the game, but could only produce one behind from their entries. Fremantle meanwhile kicked the game’s opener through Ange Stannett on their first entrance inside the arc.

But the Blues responded emphatically when Mimi Hill snapped their opening goal not long after, before Sophie McKay corralled a bouncing long ball which evaded the Dockers’ defence and fired through the sticks.

Fremantle were not as effective initially at using the breeze to their advantage in the second term, while Carlton’s efficient short ball movement allowed them to negate the wind.

But eventually the Dockers were able to turn the tide through a Matilda Banfield goal, before Hayley Miller won the resultant clearance, Megan Kauffman turned the ball towards goal and Newton read the flight best to make it two majors in as many minutes.

As the rain began to hammer down, Carlton hit back through star Erone Fitzpatrick to make it a one-point game at half-time.

After the restart, the game became bogged down by repeated stoppages, but with the wind against them it actually favoured Fremantle.

In a low-scoring third term, Fitzpatrick kicked the lone point to level the scores heading into the final quarter and while the Dockers would have been frustrated to not generate better opportunities inside 50, they would have been happy with how they negated Carlton.

But Breann Harrington’s grubbered goal after Fremantle were caught napping from a play-on call gave the Blues back the lead and the hosts the advantage early in the final quarter.

Bowers hit the post from a tough angle to bring the Dockers back within a goal, but Meg Robertson’s set-shot in front gave Carlton a game-high 11-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go.

Tunisha Kikoak and Laura Pugh missed kicks late which would have drawn the Dockers closer as the Blues held on for victory.