FREMANTLE has snapped a two-game losing streak against Collingwood at Victoria Park, heading home with the four points on the back of a 8.2 (50) to 4.6 (30) win. 

It was the Dockers' first victory over the Magpies since 2022, with the two sides not playing each other since the Magpies came out on top in season seven, 2022 and 2023. 

MAGPIES v DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

Brianna Davey almost brought the house down in the opening minute after creating a turnover and sending the ball towards goal, but the long-range shot was rushed through for a behind. Davey, playing her first game in 682 days after missing all of last 2025 with ankle and foot injuries, was busy throughout the first quarter with four contested possessions, five disposals, and two clearances. 

Emma O’Driscoll also started her return from injury strongly, racking up 10 disposals and four marks in the first quarter. The Swan Districts product, who was elevated to vice-captain in the off-season, finished her day with 22 disposals, 11 intercept possessions, seven marks, and three tackles.

Eden Zanker had more of an impact in her second appearance for the Dockers, making her presence felt in more than one contest early. The former Demon before registered her first goal in new colours partway through the second quarter, kicking truly after her lead was rewarded. The 26-year-old added another in the last, nailing the set shot from a challenging distance and angle.

Kiara Bowers was everywhere in the second quarter, amassing 12 disposals (at 75 per cent efficiency), five marks, two tackles, a clearance, and 147 metres gained, and Bella Smith provided a spark up forward for Fremantle. Smith finished with a game-high three goals, including back-to-back majors in the third quarter. 

Fremantle had the momentum early, kicking the first three goals of the match. It took until the 18th minute before Collingwood skipper Ruby Schleicher got her side’s first major, collecting a spilled mark off the hands of Mim Strom and snapping well under pressure from the opposing ruck. 

The visitors controlled the second quarter, registering 66 uncontested possessions to 38. At times it seemed like there was an extra Fremantle player out there, with the Dockers finding the spare player with little trouble. This was also reflected in the uncontested mark count, with Fremantle leading this metric 42-24 at the half. 

The Dockers continued to dominate the game after the long break, winning the disposal count 326-248 and the inside 50 count 40-29. 

But Collingwood were more competitive in the second half, not allowing the Dockers to kick away with the match.

Young Pies Ash Centra and Mischa Barwin both goaled in the final quarter, with the latter kicking the first of her career from the goal square, making the margin slightly more respectable.

"It was a tale of two halves. For the first half we just sat back a little bit and it made it really hard to press the ground. [We] couldn’t get our ball movement going from there.,” Magpies coach Sam Wright said post-game.

"[But] we thought the second half was really exciting for us. Started to get our ball movement going [and play] an exciting brand of footy that gave our forwards an opportunity. [We] evened it up around the contest and managed to defend the ground. We’re still progressing and have a lot of work to do, but if we can take the back end of the game into next week I’m really confident."

Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said the side set themselves up well after a disappointing performance in round one.

"We certainly addressed some of those areas today, particularly around contest and stoppage. We knew it was going to be a tough battle and [I’m] proud with the start we made," she said.

Webb was pleased by the ability to switch up the tempo of the game, controlling things when needed. There was also praise for the forward pairing of Smith and Zanker.

"We’ve got a few different forwards in the mix through there. I thought the [improved] delivery helped as well. [Zanker] is a class player… coming into a new team it takes time. She took a step in the right direction [today], we just need to keep supporting her with the way that we move the ball," she said.

Mixed results for returning Magpies
The vibes were high at Victoria Park pre-game, with Collingwood welcoming back Brianna Davey after a long injury layoff and Maisie Nankivell after an extended stint as a netballer. Davey, the 2021 AFLW Best and Fairest, battled hard all day and finished as her side’s leading ball winner (21 disposals, nine contested possessions, and four clearances). Meanwhile, the defensive hyper around Nankivell looks real, with the former Crow, Thunderbird, and Maverick looking at home alongside vice-captain Jordyn Allen. Nankivell had eight disposals and six intercept possessions before injuring her hamstring.

A head scratching ruck choice
Club games record-holder Sabrina Frederick was omitted from Collingwood’s side after finishing its round one loss to Richmond with three disposals and one clearance from 51 per cent game time. This left 19-year-old Josephine Bamford and Imogen Barnett to deal with two-time All-Australian Mim Strom. It was a tough day for the Pies pair, as Strom did as she pleased on her way to 28 disposals, 28 hit outs, nine clearances, and a goal. 

Up next
The AFLW celebrates Indigenous Round over rounds three and four. Collingwood is back at Victoria Park on Sunday afternoon and will be looking for its first win of the season against Hawthorn. Later that afternoon, Fremantle welcomes Carlton to Cockburn ARC Oval in the west.

COLLINGWOOD    1.2    1.4    2.4    4.6 (30)
FREMANTLE          3.1    4.2    7.2    8.2 (50)

GOALS
Collingwood: Schleicher 2, Centra, Barwin
Fremantle: Smith 3, Zanker 2, McCarthy, O’Sullivan, Strom

BEST 
Collingwood: Davey, Centra, Schleicher
Fremantle: Strom, Smith, Bowers, Zanker, O’Driscoll, Miller

INJURIES 
Collingwood: Nankivell (hamstring), Breed (TBC)
Fremantle: Nil

Crowd: 1616 at Victoria Park