Gabby O’Sullivan is among four inaugural players remaining as Fremantle Dockers celebrate 10 AFLW seasons

Inaugural Fremantle Docker Gabby O’Sullivan has opened up on how much the competition has changed over the years as the club prepares to celebrate 10 seasons in the AFLW. O’Sullivan is one of four Dockers still on the list from 2017, alongside Kiara Bowers, Hayley Miller and Ebony Antonio, who is sitting out this season due to pregnancy. Bowers and Miller will feature in the must-win clash against the Tigers at Fremantle Oval on Saturday, the club’s final home game to cap off their 10th season in the AFLW, while O’Sullivan is named as emergency on return from injury. O’Sullivan said a lot had changed since she played in the Dockers’ first game in the competition more than eight years ago. “The inaugural team was probably just a bunch of athletes who kind of knew how to kick a footy,” O’Sullivan told The West Australian. “And now you’ve got footy players coming through that haven’t had to put the footy down.” The Dockers stalwart said she’s lent heavily on her fellow original Dockers over the journey. “I can’t believe I’ve actually lasted this long to be honest … I was the rookie that came from basketball,” O’Sullivan said. “I’ve really looked up to Eb’s (Ebony Antonio), Turbo (Kiara Bowers) and Hayley (Miller), they’ve mentored me through my football and made me feel more like a footy player instead of someone kind of still learning the game.” The Dockers are yet to taste premiership glory in the AFLW, having fallen short in multiple prelims and a cancelled 2020 season. O’Sullivan said the highlight so far has been the memories made and relationships along the way and that a premiership would be the “cherry on top”. “Every year welcoming the new girls into the team and those special moments when teammates announce pregnancies, teammates that get to make their debut or unfortunately even teammates calling it quits and retiring,” she said. “There some pretty special memories that I get to reflect on and share with the girls. I’m very happy still with how my career has played out at Freo and obviously that (premiership) would just be the cherry on top.” The Dockers must beat the Tigers to keep their slim finals hopes alive, with only two rounds remaining in the home and away season.