Fremantle captain Ange Stannett and superstar Kiara Bowers have made stunning returns to AFLW to lift the Dockers to a 22-point victory over Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval.

Stannett missed all of last season after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament but that didn’t stop her teammates from electing her as captain. Their reasons for that decision were on show against the Power as Fremantle won 7.4 (46) to 3.6 (24)

Stannett’s first kick as captain was a goal during the first term and she then kicked another major in the second term.

But it was a passage of play midway through the second quarter which summed up her impact. Stannett laid three smothers in the same passage of play as she made repeated efforts to stop Port Adelaide from moving the ball freely.

Bowers watched from the sidelines last season after giving birth to her son but she made an instant impact upon returning to training and sent a clear reminder about her brilliance with 22 disposals, six clearances and 14 tackles in her 50th game.

Hayley Miller kicked three goals in a wonderful performance inside 50 and Emma O’Driscoll was outstanding in defence.

The Dockers controlled the start of the match but couldn’t find targets forward of centre. They led the inside 50 count 6-13 at quarter-time but managed only two marks inside the arc as Port Adelaide kept repelling attacks.

Gabby Newton was starring in defence for Fremantle and that meant they led by six points at quarter-time. That trend continued in the second term as Port Adelaide held firm when Fremantle went forward.

The Dockers were under siege in the third quarter as momentum swung Port’s way. The Power were harder at the footy and kept winning contests, but O’Driscoll was outstanding whenever the home team went forward. Her relentless attack on the ball, run and long kicking continually repelled Port Adelaide’s attacks.

Megan Kauffman was also prominent all around the ground and kicked a crucial goal.

Justine Mules-Robinson kicked the Power’s goal for the third term, giving her both of their majors and Port deserved to be closer than the 11-point deficit they faced with one quarter remaining.

Port were relentless but got no reward because O’Driscoll was incredible as Port Adelaide pressed to start the final term. She just kept winning crucial contests as the home team reduced the deficit to only five points.

But the Dockers stood up when the pressure was at its highest.

Miller produced a brilliant tackle on Shineah Goody and booted her second goal from the subsequent free kick. Then Gabby Biedenweg-Webster shrugged off Tegen Germech to give the Dockers a buffer and then Miller sealed the win.

FREMANTLE 2.1 3.2 4.3 7.4 (46)

PORT ADELAIDE 1.1 1.3 2.4 3.6 (24)

Goals – FREMANTLE: H Miller 3 A Stannett 2 M Kauffman G Biedenweg-Webster. PORT ADELAIDE: J Mules-Robinson 2, K Pope.

Best – FREMANTLE: E O’Driscoll, K Bowers, G Newton, H Miller, M Kauffman, A Stannett.

PORT ADELAIDE: M Scholz, K Pope, J Mules-Robinson, A Dowrick, P Window, A Woodland.

Injuries - PORT ADELAIDE: A Borg (ankle). FREMANTLE: T Kikoak (concussion)

Umpires: K Bayre J Orr J Armstrong