Aisling McCarthy celebrates a goal during round one, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

FREMANTLE has started its 2024 season with a surprising 43-point win away from home against an injury-depleted Essendon.

Essendon was left with three on the bench following a collision between Bombers' co-captain Bonnie Toogood and Amber Clarke in the second quarter, with neither player returning to the ground following the friendly fire.

It wasn't always the Dockers way, as the Bombers dominated the first quarter with the wind. Former Bulldog and Kangaroo Daria Banister, who returned to AFLW for the first time since an ACL injury last October, was able to capitalise on the Bombers’ ascendency when a holding-the-ball free kick allowed her to kick the first major of the game.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 10:18

    AFLW Mini-Match: Essendon v Fremantle

    Extended highlights of the Bombers and Dockers clash in week one of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
  • 06:10

    AFLW full post-match, WK1: Bombers

    Watch Essendon's press conference after week one’s match against Fremantle

    AFLW
  • 03:29

    AFLW full post-match, WK1: Dockers

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after week one’s match against Essendon

    AFLW
  • 01:36

    Amazing Aine turns heads with clinical bag of four

    Aine Tighe shows her class and slots four majors to lead her side to a big victory

    AFLW
  • 05:56

    AFLW Highlights: Essendon v Fremantle

    The Bombers and Dockers clash in week one of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
  • 00:45

    Slick Dockers run hot in final-term dominance

    Laura Pugh soccers through a ripper before Megan Kauffman shows her pace and class to ice the game

    AFLW
  • 00:50

    Super Seth goes all the way with boundary beauty

    Philipa Seth works the angle and breeze to perfection with a superb strike

    AFLW
  • 00:38

    Tighe's terrific turn brings more Docker delight

    Aine Tighe reads the play perfectly and nails her second major

    AFLW
  • 00:55

    Huge collision brings concerns for big-name Bombers

    Amber Clarke is stretchered off with concussion and Bonnie Toogood limps down to the rooms after this heavy clash

    AFLW
  • 00:47

    McCarthy magic strikes twice with sweet double

    Aisling McCarthy slots two second-term majors with a pair of cracking kicks

    AFLW

But the collision between Clarke and Toogood at the start of the second quarter turned the game on its head.

The two forwards crashed into each other during in a marking contest 40m out from the Bombers' goal.

Clarke was immediately stretchered off the ground and later diagnosed with concussion, whilst Toogood, who looked to come off the better of the two, came to the bench with a suspected knee injury.

BOMBERS v DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

Essendon looked rattled following the incident and the Dockers took the momentum, adding four majors on the board, with two goals each to forwards Aisling McCarthy and Aine Tighe. A second goal to Bannister settled the Bombers, reducing the Dockers' lead to 12-points at half-time.

It wasn't the start after the break that the Bombers wanted when Fremantle continued to add to its total. Philipa Seth kicked an impressive goal from the boundary. The Bombers tried to rally late in the quarter when Alexandra Morcom capitalised with a goal from turnover keeping the Dockers’ lead to 12 points.

However it was all the Dockers in the final quarter as they added five further majors to their tally. Aine Tighe kicked two more goals, making it four for the afternoon, ensuring the Dockers walked away 43-point winners.

POST-MATCH
Bombers left counting injury toll after Dockers loss

The moment
The incident between Toogood and Clarke changed the momentum of the game. With the two forwards unable to take further part in the match, the Bombers, who had dominated the first quarter, were left rattled, and allowed Fremantle to kick the next four goals straight. These goals gave Fremantle the lead, whilst also allowing Tighe and McCarthy to get involved in the game. The Dockers never looked back.

00:55

Huge collision brings concerns for big-name Bombers

Amber Clarke is stretchered off with concussion and Bonnie Toogood limps down to the rooms after this heavy clash

One to watch
It was a tough day for the home side, but a shining light for the Bombers was the efforts of Georgia Nanscawen. The inside midfielder was the equal-leading disposal-winner with 25, including a whopping 19 contested possessions and 11 clearances.

Up next
Fremantle will enjoy an eight day break, and will be hoping to continue its winning ways when they come up against Adelaide on Sunday night at Fremantle Oval. Essendon will look to get its first win of the season when it travels to the west next Saturday to take on West Coast at Mineral Resources Park.

ESSENDON      1.2   2.2   3.3   3.3 (21)
FREMANTLE     0.0   4.2   5.3   10.4 (64)
 
GOALS
Essendon: Bannister 2, Morcom
Fremantle: Tighe 4, McCarthy 2, Seth, Pugh, Kauffman, Runnalls

BEST 
Essendon: Nanscawen, Gay, Bannister Prespakis, Wales
Fremantle: McCarthy, Tighe, Strom, Brazill, East

INJURIES 
Essendon: Amber Clarke (concussion), Toogood (knee)
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 2,820 at Windy Hill