Fremantle are in a three-way fight for finals and couldn’t have found a better time to recall one of their stars ahead of a massive clash against Geelong.
Having been unavailable for the last five weeks due to an ankle injury, Emma O’Driscoll will be a welcome addition to Freo’s backline against the best attacks in the competition.
O’Driscoll is the only change from last week’s team that defeated the Saints, replacing Madi Scanlon, who picked up her own ankle injury in the 11-point win over St Kilda.
The two-time All-Australian will be crucial if the Dockers are to surprise the Cats, with Geelong possessing the most powerful attack in the competition.
The Cats ran riot last week in a 53-point drubbing of Freo’s crosstown rivals West Coast and are averaging more than 70 points a game, even outscoring powerhouses North Melbourne on average.
However, they will be without spearhead Jackie Parry (concussion), in a blow for her quest to be the competition’s leading goalkicker, currently one behind Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh.
As Geelong look to keep pressure on the Roos for the minor premiership, Fremantle are clinging onto eighth place with Adelaide and Hawthorn less than four percentage points behind them on the ladder with two games to go.
Only North Melbourne have beaten the Cats this season, and if the Dockers cannot spring an upset, it’s imperative they do not get blown out of the water to keep their percentage healthy.
Coach Lisa Webb said she was excited for the challenge they will present this weekend.
“They’re a great team but we’ve really enjoyed the challenge of playing those top teams and Geelong are certainly one of them,” she said.
“We’ve got great confidence in the brand of footy we’re building, but we need to be right on the money this weekend.
“We feel we’ve got a really good method to not only win the ball but also defend the ball and we’re backing our mids to get the job done.”