DESPITE a close first half between the Geelong Cats and the Fremantle Dockers, it was the latter taking out an 18-point win at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday night.

For Fremantle, it was a whole team effort that got them over the line in the crucial contest, though three key Dockers played superbly across the park.

Speaking after the game about her team, Fremantle coach Lisa Webb heaped praise on the team who fought a tight tussle early to pull away in the second half.

“It was a bit of a slow start but once we got to work, our contest work was really strong,” Webb said.

“We changed a couple of things up structurally, and I’m just really, really happy for the girls.

“They just keep building, keep learning on the job and they are so adaptable to what we throw at them and it’s just really amazing to coach them at the moment to be honest.”

With Geelong’s ruck Melissa Bragg receiving a knock to the chest and subsequently playing less game time, the Dockers really got on top of the other rucks of the Cats in Gabbi Featherston and Kate Darby.

Webb them singled out the efforts of ruck Mim Strom, as well as Hayley Miller who was played forward alongside new recruit Aisling McCarthy.

Strom had 42 hitouts, 14 disposals, six marks and seven tackles, while former captain Miller contributed a goal alongside 24 touches, six marks, four tackles and three clearances.

“I thought our backs held up really well, [the Cats] a really dangerous team and we know that,” she continued.

“We’ve got some great players all over the ground so we just made sure that the girls got to work and the contest was obviously really crucial.

“I thought Mim [Strom] was really dominant and then when we got the ball forward we were having that contest with Hayley [Miller] down there was exceptional and [I’m] proud of the way they went about it.”

Having crossed from West Coast in the off-season, McCarthy has been one of the best off-season recruits across the league. She shone again notching up a game-high 516 metres gained, while adding a goal to go with 28 disposals, two marks, six tackles and seven clearances.

“She’s phenomenal, just what she can do, she’s so clever, she can kick with both sides of her body but just her professionalism, [is the main thing],” Webb continued.

“I’m always finding her around the club looking at those one percenters to get better or always asking for meetings.

“[She has] that growth mindset and anything I’ve thrown at her she’s continued to take on and improve and we are really lucky to have her.”

Another Docker that has been in sublime form has been Gabby O’Sullivan, she kicked two goals and had 19 disposals.

One of the moves that helped propel her side to victory, was the move to put Sarah Verrier into the forwardline. Webb explained that this move came from assistant coach Kara Antonio in the coaches box.

“That was ‘Juddy’, one of our assistants, that was a great call by her,” she said.

“We popped her forward and got Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster behind the ball just with that speed and dash and she makes really great decisions with the ball [does] Sarah.

“[I’m] rapt for her to have a really strong contribution as did most of the team to be honest with you.”