AFLW: Fremantle desperate to bounce back against Port Adelaide after lacklustre performance

Fremantle defender Madi Scanlon says AFLW powerhouse Adelaide beat them at their own game on Sunday but believes the chance to travel and bond as a team in round three can help them quickly move past the goalless disaster.

The Dockers crashed back to earth against the Crows at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, failing to boot a major in the 33-point loss in the wake of an encouraging win over Essendon to open the season.

A physical Crows outfit lead by midfielder duo Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard, who both received nine coaches votes for a second week in a row, dominated the contest from the outset with the Dockers slow to react.

“It’s disappointing. We know they are a really solid side but we still didn’t come out the way we wanted to and we just got caught on the back foot from the start and weren’t able to redeem ourselves,” Scanlon told The West Australian.

“Adelaide are pretty notorious for being quite a physical and tough contested team but we probably still didn’t respond in the way that we should have to it.

“We are also known for our physicality and our hard running but unfortunately they beat us at our own game.”

The 23-year-old said her side needed to find a better mental approach when scoreboard pressure, including not having scored a goal for a large period of the game, began to plague them.

“There’s definitely that perceived scoreboard pressure and we probably do put it on ourselves a little bit,” Scanlon said.

“Going into the second half they had only really scored a couple of goals, but it probably felt more hot than it was and we just didn’t relish our opportunities in the forward line.

“That’s definitely something that we need to work on our mental game, staying on task for the full four quarters and not letting things like the scoreboard affect the way that we play and move the ball.”

Fremantle will travel to play Port Adelaide on Saturday at Alberton Oval, and Scanlon says the trip will help bring the group together.

“We love travelling together, we are a really tight knit team and really have great connection,” she said.

“We do love going away together so hopefully that’ll provide a good connection.”

The Dockers will wait on scan results for young defender Tunisha Kikoak, who came from the field cradling a heavily strapped shoulder after an incident laying a tackle in the third quarter.

Forward Tara Stribley is expected to be available and will be a test to play following an ankle injury sustained in scrimmage last week.

Port will be without captain and former Docker Janelle Cuthbertson, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament last week against the Western Bulldogs.