AFLW: Fremantle Dockers recruit Gabby Newton backs Aisling McCarthy to fire in new-look midfield

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AFLW: Fremantle Dockers recruit Gabby Newton backs Aisling McCarthy to ***** in new-look midfield

Fremantle debutant Gabby Newton has backed fellow off-season recruit Aisling McCarthy to breathe new life into the Dockers’ midfield without Kiara Bowers.

The Dockers pinched cross-town rival West Coast’s best ball-winner in the off-season, with the Irish star to take on a lead role alongside Hayley Miller in Lisa Webb’s engine room.

Newton, who says it “means a lot putting the purple on for the first time” against Essendon on Sunday, revealed the Dockers haven’t asked McCarthy to play like Bowers — set to miss the season through pregnancy — but is confident she can fill that void.

“A big thing that we’ve spoken about is that no one can replace Ange (Stannett) or Turbo (Bowers), but certainly other people bring different strengths,” she said.

“She has such a unique ability to see the game and use her skills and I think that comes from Gaelic (football), along with all our other Irish ******.

“So I think she’ll definitely bring something fresh to her role, and hopefully a new and different look, but something that once Turbo comes back, will complement our game style very well.”

Laura Pugh will captain the Dockers this week in the absence of Stannett, who was elected to the role but won’t play a game this season.

Camera IconAisling McCarthy of the Dockers chases the ball during the AFLW practice. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images

The defender is one of three co-vice captains, alongside former skipper Hayley Miller and forward Aine Tighe.

“She’s someone who from the beginning made the extra effort to make me feel welcome, and that goes for a lot of the leaders in our team,” Newton said.

“So to be able to see her step into that role for this weekend is just a proud friend moment first of all, but second of all, just something that she definitely deserves and the group will get around her a lot.”

Essendon star Bonnie Toogood racked up 21 disposals and booted two goals to sink the Dockers the last time they met.

The **** forward is a close friend of Newton and the new Fremantle forward has been watching their development closely.

“They’ve obviously had a massive couple of years and saw a big improvement last year. I think I’ve watched every game of theirs, because Bonnie Toogood is one of my best friends, and she hasn’t gone too bad either,” she said.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconGabby Newton and Bonnie Toogood at the 2023 AFLW awards Credit:

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“So they’ll definitely be a challenge, but we also want to have confidence in the way that we play in our game plan.

“I think we might be in opposite ends of the ground, but if she swings behind to play a spare I might have to take a specky on her.”

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