Fremantle coach Trent Cooper has warned his confident team of complacency after the Dockers issued a warning to the AFLW competition with a commanding 27-point victory over the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.
The unbeaten Dockers handled the warm and blustery conditions at Fremantle Oval better to register an impressive 10.7 (67) to 6.4 (40) win over the two-time grand finalists.
They followed up a stirring round one road victory against Melbourne Demons with an aggressive performance marked by strong tackling and hard-running to overwhelm the Lions.
After notching just four wins in the previous two seasons, the high-octane Dockers are emerging as a bolter this season as they sit equal on points with North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in Conference A.
With only a six-day break until the Dockers' next match against Collingwood, Cooper urged caution but believed his team should remain upbeat.
"We have to make sure complacency doesn't slip in," he told reporters.
"The girls are up and about. There is no room to knock that out of them."
The Dockers trailed by 11 points at the first break but made their move with the aid of a strong breeze in the second quarter before impressively dismantling the Lions during a dominant second half.
They had a host of contributors with 18-year-old Sabreena Duffy impressing with two goals, while star Dana Hooker had 24 disposals.
"We were happy to make it a shootout and it worked," Cooper, who is in his debut season as coach, said.
"There was more pressure on us today than last week. There will be pressure on the rest of the year. Sides will come after us."
Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich lamented his side's inability to utilise the breeze in the third term as the Lions suffered their first loss of the season despite a tireless effort by midfielder Alexandra Anderson (25 disposals).
"In the third quarter we struggled to score and that was deflating," he said.
"They were terrific after quarter-time. They were really intense which made it hard for us to generate anything in that third term. They took their opportunities."
Lions defender Shannon Campbell required medical attention in the first term following a knock to the head by Gabby O'Sullivan but played out the contest.
Despite suffering their first ever defeat to the Dockers, the Lions remain on top of Conference B and will look to rebound in round three against the Demons.
