Defender eyes off goal posts

Fremantle Dockers defender Philipa Seth has been gearing up for the 2021 AFLW season in conditions unlike any other for professional athletes. Thankfully for the full-time physiotherapist, who won many hearts during her stint in Collie prior to being drafted, work has provided a degree of normality during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Work has been pretty steady since making the move up from down south,” Seth said. “I actually moved back to where my parents are, so it was a case of moving back to family and friends. I have been continuing my work as a physiotherapist and work up in Kalamunda at the moment. “So it still has a bit of a country feel, still some fresh air and not quite stuck in the hustle and bustle of the CBD and city life. “During (the height of) COVID, my work did quieten down, but luckily we are an essential service, so I was able to continue my work.” The Dockers had their first pre-season hit out against West Coast on Saturday, and the resolute defender is hopeful her side can build on the foundations from a successful 2020 season, in which they went undefeated before the pandemic intervened. “We do not want sides to score as much against us,” Seth said. “And we want to be putting more goals on the board as well “I think definitely an ambitious goal in 2021 is for us ourselves to get more goals, but that can be generated from defence as well. So we are definitely looking at being more of an attacking backline if possible.” A number of SWFL women’s players — including Doma Fedele, Yana Guretti and Harmony Staszewski-Hose — got the chance to play at Seth’s WAFLW club East Fremantle last season, while Collie Eagles players Rachel Shepherd and Tahlia Dawson-Gibbs, who Seth knows from her time up the hill, got a chance to play with South Fremantle. “It is really good for their footy development that they get to come up here and play some games,” Seth said. Former Harvey Bulls star Larissa Versaci, one of Seth’s teammates at WAFLW level, has been appointed vice-captain of East Fremantle’s 2021 league squad.