AFLW 2024: Fremantle Dockers defender Ash Brazill named to face Adelaide Crows, Ariana Hetherington comes in

Fremantle have named Ash Brazill for the second week in a row as the defender aims to make her return from an ankle injury in her side’s do-or-die finals clash with Adelaide.

Brazill, who has not played for the Dockers since hurting her ankle in round nine, has been named on the interchange in their 21-woman squad for Saturday’s semifinal.

She was named in last week’s side to face Essendon, despite donning a moon boot at training two days out, but was a game-day withdrawal.

Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said on Tuesday she was confident Brazill would be fit for the Adelaide game and the moon boot was precautionary.

“It is more to protect her from running around after a kid. She’s super active, she’s a busy mum and it gives her the best chance to get up. It’s more of a protective mechanism than anything else.”

The former Collingwood defender and ex-netball star is one of two inclusions for Fremantle ahead of their crunch match against the Crows in Adelaide.

Ariana Hetherington has been called into the team, while Amy Mullholland will miss the game through a concussion suffered in the 10-point win over Essendon last weekend.

Joanne Cregg has been omitted, named as an emergency alongside Tahleah Mulder and Holly Ifould.

Adelaide have made one change, bringing in small forward Abbie Ballard for tall utility Lily Tarlinton.

Fremantle team vs Adelaide

B: E O’Driscoll, L Pugh.

HB: G O’Sullivan, M Scanlon, J Flynn.

C: S Verrier, H Miller, O Lally.

HF: P Seth, G Biedenweg-Webster, J Low.

F: E Antonio, M Kauffman.

FOLL: M Strom, A McCarthy, G Newton.

I/C: T Kikoak, A Runnalls, A Brazill, D East, A Hetherington.

EMG: J Cregg, T Mulder, H Ifould.