The Vic Bias is real.

That is, according to leading commentator and former AFLW star Kate McCarthy, who believes Fremantle are “undervalued” in the competition despite winning a final last year.

Just days out from the start of the 2025 season, the Dockers are far from the bookmakers’ darling for the premiership, paying $34, according to TABTouch.

It comes after not a single club captain predicted Fremantle would win the grand final this season, with reigning premiers and heavy flag favourites North Melbourne receiving 10 votes.

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“I hate it but it exists, the Victorian bias, for sure,” McCarthy told The West Australian.

“Coming from Brisbane myself, it’s very evident and I think the only reason we see sort of less of that is because of the powerhouses that Brisbane and Adelaide have been in the women’s comp as well.

“And that’s no disrespect to North Melbourne, they absolutely deserve to be the premiership favourites, considering what they did last year, and a ball hasn’t been bounced yet for 2025.

“But I think Fremantle have been definitely a little bit undervalued from the wider media.

“They did have a number of injuries last year, and I think what Lisa Webb is building at the Fremantle Dockers is something that’s very special.”

Fremantle’s best-ever player Kiara Bowers is set to make her highly-anticipated return against Port Adelaide on Sunday after missing last season due to pregnancy.

The four-time club champion, three-time All-Australian and 2021 best and fairest winner will also play her 50th game for the club.

Captain Ange Stannett, who did not play a game in her first season as skipper following an ACL injury, is also set to return in another huge boost for the Dockers’ flag hopes.

“I’m really looking forward to actually seeing their progression from last year to this year,” McCarthy said of Fremantle.

“Obviously had a number of injuries to their forward line on the run, which is really hard to cover mid season. “Getting Kiara Bowers back is a huge one, she’s pretty irreplaceable. I think they’re going to be really competitive.

“And they showed last year that their best is good enough to match it with some of the best teams in the competition.”

Star ruck Mim Strom is firming for another huge season following a maiden All-Australian blazer.

McCarthy said the reigning club champion, who led the league for hit-outs in 2024, had “weapons that were pretty hard to stop”.

“No matter how much homework you do into Mim and her ability, either at the rough contest or around the ground, it’s going to be pretty hard to stop her,” she said.

“And as we see key position players, they do take a little bit of time to develop and she’s still really young, so I only see her game improving year on year from here out.”