AFLW: Manjimup’s Dana East reveals the dramatic conversation with Fremantle’s Hayley Miller before first goal

Breakout AFLW rookie Dana East has revealed the dramatic moment she shared with Fremantle Dockers captain Hayley Miller just seconds before booting her maiden goal at senior level. Manjimup’s East recounted the story with Miller and fellow teammate Emma O’Driscoll on the club’s podcast Kickin’ Back — just days before continuing the impressive start to her career with another strong midfield showing against Richmond. She finished with 10 disposals, five tackles and a second AFLW goal as the Dockers rolled to a comfortable 11.11 (77) to 7.5 (47) win over Richmond in the highest-scoring game in the competition’s history. East continued a rampant second quarter run by the Dockers in their round two clash with Greater Western Sydney when she marked just outside the arc and was awarded a 50m penalty. But Miller said it took a moment for the youngster to realise what had happened, before nerves kicked in. “I will not forget the look on your face,” she said. “You didn’t realise there had been a 50m penalty and I went up to you and I said ‘you’ve got a 50’ and I reckon all the colour dropped out of your face — your eyes were like saucers.” East said she “felt like I was going to pass out” as she was marched to the top of the goal square. “It felt great, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.” Uncertainty surrounds the Dockers’ return to Western Australia after the State Government backflipped on its February 5 border reopening date but the club are still currently fixtured to face Carlton at Fremantle Oval on February 12. Before that, they face Collingwood on Thursday night in a blockbuster clash between two premiership fancies, the Western Bulldogs the following Tuesday and then North Melbourne in Hobart in round five. Meanwhile, Bunbury product and former Peel Thunder ruck Beth Schilling, who was also taken in last year’s draft, remains on the outer at the West Coast Eagles.