Fremantle Dockers club champion Mim Strom ready to take another step forward in 2025

Here’s a scary warning for the AFLW — Mim Strom is intent on getting even better next year and believes her Fremantle side will take the next step too.

Strom announced herself as the premier ruck in the competition this season and was on Thursday night crowned the Dockers’ fairest-and-best for the first time.

“You definitely don’t want to go backwards, do you?” Strom said moments after having the medal placed around her neck.

“I’m a very competitive person and whatever I produce, I want to produce better the next time so that’ll be what we’re looking forward to in 2025.”

Strom has become a fourth midfielder in the Dockers’ on-ball brigade that improved out of sight this season, even without star Kiara Bowers.

Now Bowers is poised to return after missing this year while pregnant, Ange Stannett is working back from an ACL rupture and Strom will get the support of star ruck-forward Aine Tighe.

“I can’t wait to see all the talent we’re gonna get back in and also the talent that we will hopefully be getting in the national draft, it’s really exciting the young girls that are coming through,” Strom said.

“Kiara is someone I’ve looked up to for a long time, someone I’ve watched win this medal, and heard her speak so passionately about the club.

“It’s incredible to think about having her back in and I can’t wait to go back to my phone because I bet his text from her because she is just the best person.”

The ruck, who blitzed the league in all key measures as her side returned to finals this season, said getting bang for buck from her hit-outs was her focus next year.

It’s been a meteoric rise for a teenage ruck once told simply to nullify the impact of her opponents.

“Going from not being the best tap ruck, I had to work on my follow up work a lot so to be able to bring that into my sixth year is really special,” Strom said.

“It’s not the worst thing to be called the fourth midfielder and I definitely pride myself on that and won’t be should be shying away from it next year.”

Strom was also recognised by her teammates winning her first Players’ Award and said she felt honoured to be recognised among teammates, coaches, staff and family.

“There’s too many people to thank but honestly, I just feel a lot of joy to be crowned this medal in such an incredible team,” Strom said.

“It’s incredible – I was honestly shocked because that’s a really important award to be voted by your peers in a group that is so selfless and hardworking,” Strom said.

“To vote for me is a pretty surreal feeling, (and) to know they have that much trust in me as the Players’ Player is just as important to me as this (Fairest and Best) medal.”