AFLW: Fremantle Dockers to fight veteran Gabby O’Sullivan’s one-match ban for striking in win over Melbourne
Fremantle will challenge the one-match ban handed to veteran Gabby O’Sullivan for striking during her best-on-ground performance against Melbourne on Saturday.
O’Sullivan was handed the suspension after making contact with Demons defender Sinead Goldrick in the first quarter, with the Match Review Officer grading the hit as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
The Dockers will challenge the decision at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night in an attempt to have the Irish star available for their match against St Kilda on Friday.
The 30-year-old starred in the comeback victory, kicking three goals and dragging Fremantle back into the contest.
Losing O’Sullivan would be a double blow for Freo, with key forward Aine Tighe set for a stint on the sidelines after suffering an early knee injury against the Dees.
Speaking to The West Australian after the game on Saturday, O’Sullivan said the win was one of the best moments of her career.
“I reckon that’s our best win I’ve ever been involved in. It reminds me of Kiara Bowers’ first game at Casey Fields, when we came back from five goals behind and won,” O’Sullivan said.
“The belief of our girls going into that fourth quarter was so high, and then we started chipping away at it, and as soon as we got within that goal I knew it was ours.
“I think belief when it’s so high is a magical thing. We just had that grit and that belief and it paid dividends in the end.”
O’Sullivan — who was made a life member at the club’s Doig Medal night last week — praised the side for their ability to cover the loss of spearhead Tighe.
“I think something like that with a player with so much talent and leadership can really affect the side,” she said.
“But I think for us it made us all come together. We didn’t actually talk about it, I think we just knew we had to plug that hole and props to Ari (Ariana Hetherington), she stood up really well and filled that hole.”
Tighe, who has been sent for scans, has been the Dockers’ leading goalkicker for the last two seasons and they struggled to convert without the dominant target.
Tighe has previously struggled with back to back ACL injuries which kept her sidelined for the first two seasons after being recruited from Ireland.
Fremantle play St Kilda at RSEA Park on Friday at 4.05pm.
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