AFLW yields historic draw
THE AFLW has it’s first official thriller after the GWS Giants and Fremantle Dockers played out a heart-stopping draw in front of 4000 screaming fans at Blacktown.
Not one of them left a second early as both teams went in search of their first wins for the season and played each other to a standstill finishing locked – GWS 7.1.43 to Fremantle 6.7.43
Both sides had their chances to win in the nailbiting last quarter. The Giants’ Steph Walker had a shot on goal in the dying minutes and missed everything, including a handball option to an unattended Nicola Barr in the goal square.
The Dockers’ Ashley Sharp, who finished with three goals, also missed a deliberate shot from 30m out, which would almost certainly have wrapped up the match.
In the end it was the Giants’ Aimee Schmidt who kept her head to kick the goal which tied the match with just two minutes left on the clock.
“There’s mixed feelings about the game,” Giants coach Tim Schmidt said.
“There was disappointment and frustration but on the whole it was a history-making game playing the first draw in the competition.”
The visitors will look to accuracy in front of goal where they managed only six of 13 shots while the Giants were perfect in front of the big sticks kicking seven straight with the only behind rushed.
The Dockers won almost all the key stats dominating contested possession, clearances, tackles and inside 50s.
“It was frustrating,” Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan said. “Footy is about key moments and key opportunities and you have to take those opportunities. There were key moments in the last quarter and finishing which cost us.”
The Giants had a host of good players who helped them fight back from a scoreless first term. Marquee player Emma Swanson was outstanding in her first game for the club picking up 16 disposals and continuing to drive forward.