Fremantle Dockers CEO Simon Garlick loving additions to the team for upcoming AFLW season
The Dockers kicked off their pre-season on Saturday with a 7.3 (45) to 3.4 (22) victory over West Coast and will face St Kilda at Cockburn this weekend. That will be their final match before taking on Port Adelaide in round one.
Fremantle's depth was on show against the Eagles as Kiara Bowers returned from giving birth last season and Ange Stannett played her first game since recovering from a knee reconstruction. But the Dockers also unveiled their draftees with Victorian pair Georgie Brisbane and Evie Parker.
The most recent draft was the first where clubs could draft players from anywhere in Australia and the Dockers were quick to pounce on Brisbane, Parker and Holly Egan after watching them impress in Victoria.
The club also recruited forward Bella Smith from the Sydney Swans, but she didn't play against the Eagles due to a finger injury.
Garlick is excited by the changes that fans will see this season.
'The young women from Victoria who have come over have made a real impact not just because of their clear ability but because of the way they've integrated into the group and the impact they've had from a cultural point of view. We've got some returning senior players who missed either the whole or a large chunk of last season who are returning,' he told The West Australian.
'We are excited about what our group might be able to achieve. I think the evolution of the game itself is exciting. We can't wait.
'We have never shied away from setting significant targets for ourselves to achieve as a footy club. We don't want to put a ceiling on what we can achieve.'
The Dockers showed their faith in coach Lisa Webb last month, extending her contract for another two years after she led the team to the finals last season.
Garlick is confident she can take the team to another level and maximise the talent on the list as the Dockers chase a historic premiership.
'Webby has got a fantastic ability to build genuine and authentic relationships across the whole club. When you mix that ability with a very strong football brain, you have a person who can help he club to achieve success,' he said.
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