Danielle Laidley: Every Fremantle Dockers player rated from AFLW season-opening win over Port Adelaide

Fremantle kicked off their 2025 AFLW season with a victory on the road over Port Adelaide, with plenty of stars stepping up. Danielle Laidley rates every Docker out of 10. 1. Hayley Miller: 9 Kicked 3.1 and had 6 score involvements to be the match winner, a late goal with a huge tackle and free kick. The others from a lot of hard work further up the field from her teammates. 2. Emma O’Driscoll: 9 Outstanding taking the points beating, the dangerous Gemma Houghton. Won many 1/1 contests, her intercepts at ground level were elite, finishing with an equal game high 11 intercepts. Penetrating with over 400 metres gained from her 14 kicks. 3. Kiara Bowers: 9 Worked extremely hard in the midfield for 22 touches. Won 6 clearances, if not winning the ball laid 13 tackles. A mix of inside and uncontested ball allowed her to 358 metres gained. 4. Megan Kauffman: 9 Super busy and a high work rate across four quarter, her speed and finding space as a mid/forward were critical to Fremantle’s chains of possession. 19 touches including 3 score involvements and a smart snap goal from a forward 50 stoppage was clever. 5. Gabby Newton: 9 Burst out of the blocks with a huge first quarter giving her team territory and scoreboard advantage. Continued to work hard in the contest and spread to win 11 uncontested possessions for the game. 6. Ange Stannett: 9 Two great snap goals in the first half to give her team the ascendancy. 9 touches, 2 tackles, 2 clearances from 68 percent game time. The highlight the three smothers in 5 seconds, that’s what captains do. 7. Mim Strom: 8 Classic ruck battle with Matilda Scholz. Her follow up work in the ruck with 10 tackles, was impressive. Won the around the ground battle with strong intercept marks and contest down the line, particularly in the third quarter when Port had the territory. 8. Sarah Verrier: 8 Had 17 important touches, showing much composure throughout the game. Spent a lot of time on the wing allowing her team many chains of possession. Tough in a contest off the ball winning a free kick. 9. Aisling McCarthy: 7 Very consistent across the game in the midfield with 19 touches. Tough on the inside with 5 clearances and 5 tackles. Was also penetrating at times by foot. 10. Laura Pugh: 7 Solid in defence, with big spoils 5 tackles and 7 intercept marks. Offensively 16 touches for the game. Very good particularly early when Port dominated territory. 11. Ash Brazill: 7 Part of a solid defence, was able to take some crucial intercept marks along with some big spoils. Was able to rebound 50 with her 14 disposals. 12. Dana East: 7 Strong in the contest, 14 possessions, 10 tackles, 3 clearances as a midfielder were important from 64 percent game time. 13. Indi Strom: 7 Excellent debut, able to rebound the ball with her 10 touches, had a goal saving spoil on the line, along with 7 intercepts. Started the third and fourth quarter in the ruck, where she was very competitive. 14. Gabrielle Biedenweg–Webster: 7 Looked a different player, chased and applied pressure, took contested marks, led high up the ground often. Won a huge 1/1 contest in 50 to kick the ball deep to the square for a great team goal. Also won a 1/1 contest in the goal square to kick a great goal. 15. Orlagh Lally: 6 Played wing and was involved in the game early. 9 tackles and her 3 score involvements were important. 16. Georgie Brisbane: 5 Debut for the tall key forward, led strongly, competed well, and marked strongly. 5 possessions 4 score involvements and a goal assist was impressive. 17. Bella Smith: 5 First game for the club as a key forward, put on pressure, led up as a target competing well for her 9 touches. Will continue to develop the connection with the other forwards. 18. Jessica Low: 5 Used her body well in defensive contests, tackled hard, and bought the ball to ground in the contest. Wasn’t able to offer much offensive run. 19. Gabby O’Sullivan: 5 Very good early with run and carry from defence using her speed. Perhaps gave her opponents a little too much space when Port Adelaide we coming strong. 20. Amy Mulholland: 4 Six touches and 3 inside 50’s for the game, as a high half forward. Wasn’t able to find space and get involved in many chains of possessions. 21. Tunisha Kikoak: 2 Took a strong intercept mark early, and played second ruck before coming off under concussion protocol. Only played 16 percent game time.