One of the Fremantle Dockers' foundational AFLW players, Ebony Antonio, has officially announced her retirement from professional football.
The club revealed the news during their best and fairest awards ceremony on Thursday night, where Antonio was also honoured with life membership for her significant contributions.
A Trailblazing Career
Antonio missed the entire 2025 AFLW season due to pregnancy, welcoming her son Bowie with wife and fellow inaugural Docker Kara Antonio last month.
The stalwart defender-turned-forward played 70 games for Fremantle, placing her fifth on the club's all-time games played list behind Hayley Miller, Gabby O'Sullivan, Laura Pugh and Mim Strom.
Her departure leaves just two active players from Fremantle's original AFLW squad: four-time best and fairest winner Kiara Bowers and former captain Miller.
From Basketball Court to Football Field
Before switching to Australian rules football, Antonio had established herself as a professional basketballer in the WNBL.
She began her football career as a dynamic half-back, where she quickly made her mark by winning the club's best and fairest award and earning All Australian honours in 2018.
In her final seasons, Antonio transitioned to the forward line and proved equally effective, finishing as Fremantle's leading goal-kicker during the competition's seventh season.
Creating History and Leaving a Legacy
Antonio made AFLW history in 2022 when she shared the western derby medal with teammate Kiara Bowers after kicking three goals in Fremantle's 29-point victory over West Coast.
This marked the first time the award had joint winners.
Fremantle's head of AFLW, Claire Heffernan, paid tribute to Antonio's profound impact on the club.
"Epps has shaped this Club in so many ways, not just through the quality of her football, but through the person she is," Heffernan said.
"She was a role model, a leader and one of the great competitors of our program. Her legacy will live on through the players she has influenced and the culture she helped build."
Heffernan added: "We want to thank Epps for her incredible dedication across her career. She departs as a Fremantle life member and a pioneer of our program."
The club extended their best wishes to Antonio, her wife Kara, and their newborn son Bowie for the next chapter of their lives.
