Port Adelaide AFLW assistant coach Dan Merrett says the side is ready for Sunday’s Round 1 clash, as they prepare for Fremantle at Alberton Oval.  

Speaking to Adelaide media at captain’s run ahead of the season opener, Merrett touched on the ruck battle between Matilda Scholz and Mim Strom, the return of defender Indy Tahau, and the significance of Gemma Houghton’s 75th game.  

Merrett also reflected on the development of Jasmine Sowden ahead of her AFLW debut, and the improved maturity and composure of the group over the pre-season.  

Port Adelaide last played Fremantle in Round 3 in the 2024 season, with the Power going down to the Dockers by 8-points. 

Merrett on the side’s readiness for Round 1 
“We’re definitely ready for Round 1. It's been a long wait, and a long pre-season. We had a couple of good hit-outs, and then we've had the week off and a lot of time to prepare for Fremantle. To play in front of the home crowd here at Alberton, which is always electric, the girls are pumped up and ready to go.” 

Merrett on preparing for Fremantle 
“Fremantle are a really good contest side, and with Kiara Bowers coming back into the team as well, they're going to be really strong around the contest. It will be a great challenge for our midfield, and we're really excited to take them on.” 

Merrett on the battle between Matilda Scholz and Mim Strom 
“A couple of the young guns of the competition, in the ruck in particular. It’s going to be a great hit-out for them both. Matilda put in a heap of work over pre-season - I don't think she's missed a session. She's moving well, jumping well, and we know Mim Strom is also very athletic, so it will be a great challenge. Matilda has been getting help from a couple of guys in the men's program (Ivan Soldo and ruck coach Matt Lobbe) - she's in a really good space.” 

Merrett on Indy Tahau’s return to AFLW 
“I can't even imagine the ups and downs Indy has gone through in those last 697 days since playing football, but what great resilience by her to keep turning up, keep trying to get better, and now the time's come that she'll be out there. She is super athletic and talented. She’s going to be a great asset, particularly down in defence, but she can play anywhere. I think having another tall defender is really going to help us. 

“She’s had about a month of full training under her belt, as well as a couple of practice games, and she's looked really good. She's that type of player that looks like she's got all the time in the world when she's got the footy in her hands. And she also showed off a couple of times how good her leap is and her contested marking, which is going to be a great asset for us. 

“She shows incredible resilience in her ability to turn up every session ready to train. Whenever you ask her how she's going, it's always with a smile on her face, and she always says she's going great. I think she's just got that mindset that she's happy to be here, she's happy to get better, and she drives that for the rest of the group.” 

Merrett on Gemma Houghton’s milestone 75th game 
“Gemma Houghton, 75 games - what a great effort. She's a superstar. How she plays on the field, she's so exciting, so electric, she gets the crowd going, and you come to the footy to watch her. Off the field, she's amazing. Her work in the community and her bubbly personality put a smile on your face every time she's at the club.” 

Merrett on Jas Sowden’s debut 
“Sowdo (Jas Sowden) is an amazing story. She comes from a small town and a big family, and she's hit the ground running from day one. She showed how smart she is footy-wise, she’s very skilful, and just knows the game super well. She's a great asset to our team. I just can't wait for her to get out there tomorrow and make her family proud.” 

Merrett on the learnings from the pre-season hit outs 
“It was a good couple of games, and a good challenge for us. We got to work on a couple of things over the off-season. We've been trying to improve our uncontested football. The Magpies (Collingwood) game last week was a little bit windy, and the conditions made it hard to get our uncontested footy going. We've just been trying to get a little bit more balance in our game around uncontested and contested footy.” 

Merrett on the growth of the group over the pre-season 
“Last year we were very good at contested footy and that chaotic footy, so we just try to get a little bit more composure, a little bit more uncontested footy into our game, which I've seen over the pre-season. Also, just our game knowledge and our communication on field for a young side. Hopefully we can see that tomorrow — that if things do go against us, we're able to communicate, have some composure, and work our way through it.” 

Port Adelaide will face the Dockers from 3:40pm ACST on Sunday afternoon. 

Gates at Alberton Oval open at 2:10pm with more information about the day at the  AFLW Game Day Hub. 

Tickets remain available for the game with free entry for anyone under the age of 18. 

If you can’t get to the ground, the game will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo, or Binge from 3:30pm ACST.