AFL WOMEN’S EXHIBITION SERIES
Western Bulldogs v Western Australia, Etihad Stadium
12.40pm (AEST), Sunday, June 5
Go to AFL.com.au/womens for live video and audio streams of the match, plus a match report
IN HIS prime champion Hawthorn forward Dermott Brereton was a master at splitting packs, even barging through an opposition's three-quarter time huddle.
It’s no surprise then he instinctively turned coach for one of Western Australia's leading female players at a recent chance meeting on Domain Stadium.
While he waited near the boundary line to record his pre-game chat with fellow Fox Footy panellists before the Eagles-Dockers AFL match, Brereton had been keenly observing action in the West Coast-Fremantle AFL women's exhibition match, played as a curtain-raiser to the main game.
He casually mentioned aspects of Docker Sabrina Frederick-Traub's ruck style after bumping into Western Australia’s talent co-ordinator who quickly introduced him to the Dockers coach.
"The coach agreed with what I said and then said to me, 'Please, it would mean more if it came from you','' Brereton said.
The five-time Hawks premiership forward happily passed on tips to Frederick-Traub near the huddle, instructing her on how to crash a pack to get the ball free for the midfielders.
"At that stage my mind was on our preview for the (AFL) game coming up, but I had noticed some aspects of her technique I thought could be improved,'' Brereton said.
The 19-year-old English-born Frederick-Traub, who has a soccer background and also plays as a key forward, immediately recognised the blond man in the suit seeking to have a quick word to her away from teammates.
"Our team manager came up to me and said (Brereton) wanted to give me some advice. He basically told me to use my body more in contests,'' she said.
"I was a bit star-struck. I really appreciated it and it was amazing he would take the time. I took on board what he said in the next few contests and it really helped.''
Brereton explained: "She’s a tall girl (182cm) and she was getting tired, so I gave her what I considered a basic tip on what I would expect from a ruck, even when they're tired.
"She was going for the tap-out and a scrimmage would form in front of her. I told her to walk through the scrimmage and through the pack to get to the other side.
"It doesn't have to be vicious. Just walk through the pack. You'll break the ball free and your teammates will benefit from it.''
Brereton will get the opportunity to check Frederick-Traub's progress when she lines up for a West Australian team against the Western Bulldogs in an AFL women’s exhibition series match at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The match precedes the Dogs-Eagles AFL clash.
"I’m happy to help any man, woman or child who plays football. If there's anything I can pass on to make them better, regardless of what team they're on, I'll always do it,'' the Hawks legend said.
Frederick-Traub is an AFL multicultural ambassador, working with the likes of West Coast's Nic Naitanui and Fremantle's Tendai Mzungu on introducing football to new groups.
On top of Brereton’s tips Frederick-Traub, who plays for Peel Thunderbirds in the WAWFL, has been able to get some advice on ruck work from Naitanui.
"I think I'm improving with every game. I'm having one of my best seasons so far. The main thing Nic said to me was to be confident in my ability,'' she said.
