THERE'S no denying Fremantle has been one of the powerhouses of the NAB AFLW competition in recent years, but that breakthrough premiership has remained elusive.
The Dockers were well on track to take out the title in 2020 before the COVID-cancelled season, lost a semi-final in 2021 and then a preliminary final earlier this year.
"I think we've been building and building, but we've now had enough building, we want to take that next step," skipper Hayley Miller told womens.afl.
YOUR CLUB’S LIST Every team locked in for AFLW season seven
"There's been a few changes from the first to the second season this year, a few personnel changes with expansion, but saying that, change is sometimes a good thing and what you need to take that next step."
Fremantle's forward line looms as the area which will undergo the most drastic change, losing talismanic spearhead and inaugural Docker Gemma Houghton to Port Adelaide.
Second-year key Amy Franklin may be a possible beneficiary, while the Dockers also have the option of playing a greater number of smalls such as Mikayla Hyde and Mikaela Tuhakaraina.
"With someone like Gemma, she's such a big presence in the forward line and, sometimes players coming off the half-back or the midfield, you sometimes lose sight of everyone else," Miller said.
AFLW FIXTURE Who does your team play in season seven?
"With her gone, yes, it's a bit of a loss and she is some firepower down there, but I think it'll really change the dynamic of our forward line.
"We've had to rejig things a little bit and do things a little bit differently, but I think it'll have an interesting look to our forward line. A bit smaller, but that speed and giving everyone an opportunity to contribute."
Miller had an outstanding 2022, named All-Australian vice-captain, winning Fremantle's best and fairest and sitting second in the AFLCA votes with three rounds remaining (finishing ninth overall).
It coincided with the 26-year-old taking a step back from her physiotherapy career, one of the few AFLW players to be a "full-time" footballer.
PLAY FOOTY Find your local club here
"For me, it's just a bit of confidence in my ability. Last season I probably lived up to my expectations of the potential I have as a player. I'm so grateful I've got another season in the same year, so hopefully I can roll that through into this season," she said.
"I haven't got another part-time job, so I've been able to focus fully on football, both in the leadership sense and being able to be a bit more involved in things. Whilst that can be difficult at times, you have to force yourself away from footy at times and not be all-consumed by it, I'm really enjoying the experience of being a full-time footballer, and the (newly agreed) CBA certainly helps me with that."
But the ever-competitive Miller has set herself a new challenge to help balance her time away from football.
"I've just started yoga, that's my newest thing, and I'm not very good at it. I'm one of those people where if I'm not good at something, I'll keep sticking at it till I get a little bit better," Miller said.
"It obviously helps my football as well. Just being able to get a weekly massage and things, it's the luxuries AFLW players often don't have, and they don't have the time to do it.
"So, to have the time to go to yoga, go to the beach, get massages, that type of thing during the day and prepare my body and mind the best for footy has been a godsend."
