Fremantle have claimed top spot in the AFLW's Conference B, escaping the clutches of a spirited Western Bulldogs to claim a 15-point win at Whitten Oval.
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In a game played on Sunday afternoon behind closed doors, the Bulldogs led by 17 points in the third term before Fremantle fought back to claim a 10.6 (66) to 8.3 (51) victory.
Fremantle's Ebony Antonio (19 touches, 10 tackles), Kiara Bowers (21 touches, 12 tackles) and forward Ashley Sharp (three goals) were superb, while Bulldogs skipper Ellie Blackburn (two goals, 18 disposals) was excellent alongside Isabel Huntington (15 touches, six marks).
Despite the Dockers being the only unbeaten AFLW side, coach Trent Cooper wouldn't be drawn on the possibility of a perfect season.
"We aim to be undefeated; we aim to win every game. So we don't talk about being undefeated but we talk about winning the next week," he said.
"So I suppose that comes along as it does but we've never mentioned that word (undefeated) - even qualifying for finals, if the season plays out, I don't think we're guaranteed after today ... so we've just got to keep going and winning against whoever gets put up against us."
The Bulldogs started fast and Blackburn drew first blood, drilling a fine goal on the run.
Hannah Munyard followed suit from a set shot before Dockers skipper Kara Antonio responded with a clutch contested mark, converting on the siren.
The second quarter was a see-sawing affair, before Sharp handed Fremantle a two-point halftime lead.
The Bulldogs seized the ascendancy in the third term through three-consecutive goals but, as the quarter went on, Mia-Rae Clifford and Sharp struck to keep the Dockers in the game at the final change.
There were multiple lead changes in the fourth quarter before three-straight Dockers majors - capped off by Sharp running into an open goal - sealed the deal.
Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke applauded his side's ability to go toe-to-toe with Fremantle, chalking the loss up as a learning experience.
"We just had the mindset that we were playing a team who were top of the ladder. If we just tried to shut it down and make it a dour game, we weren't gonna learn anything from it," he said.
"So where we are at this stage of the season - (we're) not going to play finals, so let's just have a red-hot crack and see how good we actually are."
The Dogs were forced into two late changes with Lauren Spark (illness) and Brooke Lochland (managed) replaced by Nicole Callinan and Britney Gutknecht, while Fremantle called up Sarah Garstone for Janelle Cuthbertson (soreness).
Australian Associated Press
