Fremantle’s Aine Tighe does battle with the Roos’ Emma King during the round 5 clash in Hobart. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The bell has rung, and the contenders are ready to tap the gloves and come out swinging. But while North Melbourne and Fremantle this Saturday do battle in their AFLW qualifying final, COVID-19’s clutches on the Magpies have forced them and reigning premier Brisbane to their corners to fight another day, to be determined.
The winner of the Roos-Dockers match will advance to a preliminary final — and have the unenviable task of playing Melbourne at its Casey Fields home ground, on which no opponent in the last 13 matches has won.
NORTH MELBOURNE (7-3) v FREMANTLE (7-3) (Saturday 3.10 pm, Arden Street Oval)
Most finals between clubs next to each other on the ladder are coin-flips and in several ways, this pairing is no different. There are enough variables here to frustrate the savviest of mathematicians. The Roos — despite their inaccuracy in front of goal — fired in key moments and handed the Dockers their first loss this season, in blustery conditions in Tasmania.
In the 2021 home-and-away season finale, North Melbourne edged Fremantle by a solitary point and may have been aided in their quest by a questionable umpiring decision. While the Roos have, arguably, the comp’s best midfield, featuring prolific ball-winners Ash Riddell, Jasmine Garner, and Jenna Bruton, with star Emma Kearney rebounding from defence, and a stellar mosquito fleet, with smalls Daria Bannister, Daisy Bateman, and Isabella Eddey. Fremantle has an edge up forward, with twin towers Gemma Houghton and Roxy Roux, and a rock-solid backline with returning All-Australian Jenna Cuthbertson, surprise packet Aine Tighe, and Ange Stannett and Sarah Verrier, with Steph Cain providing the speed.
When the Dockers lost earlier in the season to the Roos, they played without then-suspended, hard-tackling Kiara Bowers to run with one of the Roos’ stars. North Melbourne also limited Fremantle’s dangerous winger, Ebony Antonio. Fremantle will be challenged on who to send Bowers or another player to — Riddell, whose average of 29 possessions per match is best in the league, or to Kearney. And will it be Tighe or Cuthbertson to get the assignment to mind Roos’ giant Emma King?
Matchups aside, Fremantle may come into this match with the bigger chip on its shoulder. Two weeks ago, without six of their best players, the Dockers conceded the most points in any AFL match, as Melbourne cracked the ton on them, which must still sting. Fremantle still has naysayers doubting its ability to win on the road, despite its not losing any Victorian matches so far this season, which rankles.
The Dockers’ midfield, now at full strength, will have its hands full with North’s, but their advantage in defence and their ability to score in bunches — as they did last week in the fourth quarter against the Suns — gives them the slightest of advantages in what should be a nail-biter.
GIL TIPS: Fremantle
