Cricketer Emma Kearney has shown she'll be a force to reckon with in the AFL Women's league, guiding the Western Bulldogs to a 32-point win over Fremantle.
Kearney gathered a game-high 21 disposals as the Bulldogs surged home to claim a 6.8 (44) to 1.6 (12) victory before a crowd of 10,100 at Whitten Oval on Saturday night.
An allrounder with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, Kearney's explosive pace and clever ball use were a highlight for the Bulldogs.
Marquee picks Katie Brennan (15 touches, two goals) and Ellie Blackburn were also impressive and showed Bulldogs will be a team to beat in the inaugural competition.
The hosts were first to hit the scoreboard with Kirsten McLeod booting a sweet running goal.
Fremantle levelled the score through Melissa Caulfield but handed the hosts the lead at the first break with a turnover.
Loose disposals became a recurring theme, with the Dockers dominating the second quarter but failing to convert their chances, booting four behinds in quick succession.
The Bulldogs led by seven points at halftime and took over the game during the second half, with the Dockers managing just a solitary point.
Bulldogs ruck Tiana Ernst was influential throughout, comfortably edging her rivals with 19 hitouts.
Fremantle captain Kara Donnellan (13 touches, six tackles) led from the front, with Belinda Smith (16 disposals) also impressive.
Bulldogs coach Paul Groves was buoyed by his side's victory over a Dockers side that had been touted as premiership contenders.
"They've got some exceptional players in that team and they're going to be really hard to beat so for us, we're really happy with that scalp," he said.
"We were able to grind it out and then get the game on our terms a little bit. Our run-and-carry is a pretty big feature of what we're trying to do."
Fremantle coach Michelle Cowan didn't hide her disappointment, saying her side had failed to replicate their pre-season intensity.
"This is AFL football and they've got to bring that effort and that endeavour and be relentless," she said.
"The Bulldogs were incredible with their relentless pressure and tackling. We need a lot more players giving better effort."
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