Docker Gabby O’Sullivan has revealed her team leaned on the advice of an AFLW great to help them overcome their first quarter woes.
Coming into the weekend’s derby, Fremantle has an unsavoury 0-8 record in first quarters this season, averaging just below four points within their opening terms, and going scoreless in three of them.
However they shook off their unwanted track record to produce their best opening term for the season, kicking three goals, while West Coast was wasteful in front of goal resulting in a goalless first half.
With the scoreboard advantage, Fremantle went on to solidify their place in the top 8 with a convincing 23-point win against their crosstown rivals.
Speaking on SportFM, O’Sullivan says the Dockers picked the brains of AFLW champion Erin Phillips to help them overcome their ongoing first quarter demons.
“It’s not just this year. Being a part of it for a while now, it’s been the past few years and we try to change a few things with our warmups and whatnot,” she sid.
“We actually had our Erin Phillips come out and have a chat with us throughout the weekend. We kind of quizzed her on that sort of stuff and she said start the process in your first contest for that first five minutes.
“I think all the girls kind of had that in the back of their mind and you know, not only was it the first contest that we went hard at, it was all throughout the day. So very pleasing.”
It was Eagle-turned-Docker Aisling McCarthy who hit the scoreboard first within the opening minutes and went on to have a strong 20-disposal performance.
But it was ruck Mim Strom who was best-on-ground after notching up a league record 48-hitouts, along with 15 touches, seven tackles and six marks.
After this record-shattering performance, O’Sullivan believes its about time Strom starts getting more credit for her work.
“She’s kind of been flying under the radar for quite a while now,” she said.
“(She) just goes about her business no fuss and like so many other girls on the team you know what you’re going to get from them.
“She’s got her older brother Zach that’s mentoring her at the moment, he’s our runner and our ruck coach and they’ve got a great relationship. I’m super proud of what she did on the weekend.”
While a Derby win kept Fremantle’s finals push on track, and effectively derailed their crosstown rivals’, O’Sullivan says finals isn’t on their radar just yet.
The AFLW season has two week remaining and the Dockers are just in touch with the top four sitting in sixth place.
Awaiting them are GWS and the Western Bulldogs – two teams and challenges that the Dockers don’t plan to take lightly.
“We’re very process driven,” said O’Sullivan.
“We know we’ve got GWS this weekend and whilst they might have a position on the ladder that’s not too favourable for themselves, we know that we can’t go out and take it too easy.
“Obviously we’ve got Western Bulldogs who had a good meeting on the weekend as well.
“Pretty cliche, but week by week and hopefully that’ll set us up for a really good finals campaign if we can make it.”
IMAGE: Code Sports