Fremantle Dockers will not underestimate winless Essendon in hunt for first win at Cockburn ARC Oval

Fremantle’s AFLW side have a golden opportunity to secure their first win at their new home ground on Sunday, but they insist they will not underestimate a winless Essendon.

Both of the Dockers’ victories this season have come in Melbourne, with their 25-point victory over Richmond last Sunday coming on the back of beating Collingwood by 20 points in round two.

Meanwhile, they have endured an unhappier start to life at Cockburn ARC Oval, going down to Port Adelaide and Carlton in the first two competitive matches they have hosted at their newly-upgraded training and administration base.

Despite Essendon’s winless start to the season, Fremantle coach Lisa Webb hailed the Bombers as a “very good team” who had played some “terrific” patches of football.

“I’m sure they’re going to be fiercely determined to get on the board,” Webb said.

“We’ve got a lot of work we need to do and a lot of things we need to get right, but (I have) full faith in this group, especially in front of a home crowd.

“The fans have been showing up. Our last home game was a sell-out, which is really great, but we want to put forward our best football. If we do that, I think the rest will come.

“Our fans have been turning up, so we want to put on a great performance.”

Forward Meg Kauffman — who is slated to play her 50th AFLW game against the Bombers — credited Fremantle’s supporters for putting on “such a good vibe” for their first two games in Cockburn, and said her side was eager to pay them back.

“We’ve done well to bounce back from round one, a performance that we really weren’t happy with, and to come out with some much better performances,” Kauffman said.

“We’re getting better and better each game and starting to really show the footy that we’ve worked really hard on in the pre-season.”

The Dockers will take an unchanged line-up into the game, with two-time All Australian ruck Mim Strom passed fit to take on the Bombers after suffering a shoulder injury in their win over the Tigers.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.