AFL Women’s: Peel trio help Fremantle to thrilling win over Melbourne

The Dockers were emphatic coming back from 14 points down at three quarter time to boot three goals in the final term (while keeping Melbourne to a solitary point) to snatch the round-one victory 8.7 (55) to 9.5 (59) in extreme heat at Cranbourne’s Casey Fields.

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Bresland, Duffy and Grieve all played a part in the win as Fremantle held off a Melbourne outfit that refused to lie down.

Duffy was especially impressive in her AFL Women’s debut, and the top-20 draft pick didn’t take long to find her first goal at the top level.

The 18-year-old showed her class hitting Ebony Antonio on the chest inside Fremantle’s forward 50m arch, but it was her follow-up work that netted her a set shot on goal after she doubled back to lead towards Antonio and take an uncontested mark in the forward pocket.

Duffy would go on to slot the goal, which ignited a run of three straight to help the Dockers undo Melbourne’s fast start.

The Peel product was one of seven playing their debuts for Fremantle, with coach Trent Cooper praising the young crop.

“The debutants have been fantastic in not necessarily playing big roles … but the character is really good, and they make our other players better,” he said.

“They all jumped in there today and they all did a really good job for us and I think we’ve still got another few who are more than capable of jumping in if we need them.”

Bresland was prominent in defence, earning a spot among Fremantle’s best players with her 12 disposals and three tackles, while Grieve tallied seven touches, two marks and two tackles in the victory.

Next week will see the Dockers return home to take on Brisbane at Fremantle Oval on Sunday at 3.05pm.

Much like the Dockers, the Lions started their season with a thrilling win as Pinjarra product Sabrina Frederick-Traub collected 16 disposals and a goal.