A NINE-GOAL blitz from Darcy Vescio has catapulted Carlton’s VFLW team to a 75-point win over Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday afternoon – 14.8.92 to 2.5.17.
A perfect day for football allowed the Blues to play a free-flowing brand - resulting in their biggest win of the year - and handed the Bombers the VFLW wooden spoon.
Trailing Darebin’s Hannah Mouncey by one goal coming into the round, Vescio’s nine majors rocketed her to the VFLW’s leading goalkicker for the season.
From the first bounce Vescio looked primed for a day out, gathering a penetrating Celine Moody kick inside 50 and running into an open goal for the first of the day.
The goals didn’t stop coming for Vescio, as the elusive small forward booted eight of Carlton’s first nine majors.
While Vescio was piling on the goals for the Blues up forward, Olivia Vesely and Akec Chuot were repelling anything that came their way, dashing off the half-back flank with style.
Carlton set the standard in the first term, racing to a 25-point lead at quarter-time – 4.2. 26 to 0.1.1.
Vescio continued her dominance in the second quarter when Georgia Gee found her on a lead with a daisy-cutter of a pass. The forward immediately played on and dribbled an extraordinary goal from the boundary.
All four Carlton goals in the second term were scored by Vescio, as she stamped her authority on the contest with numerous contested grabs.
The match was as good as over at half-time, with the Blues kicking away to a 49-point buffer after a scoreless quarter to Essendon.
Again, Vescio’s best-on-ground game persisted after half-time. A Katelyn Cox kick travelled deep into the Blues’ forward-line and Vescio set herself on the shoulders of her opponents with a towering speckie and follow-up goal.
However, Vescio wasn’t the only impressive Carlton player.
Playing her first game in the navy blue, prospective father-daughter selection Abbie McKay – daughter of Carlton champion Andy McKay – gave Blues fans a taste of what to expect in the future.
McKay nabbed a number of clearances and kicked her first goal midway through the third term in a strong first-game showing.
Abbie McKay gave Blues fans exciting glimpses of her potential in her VFLW debut. (Photo: Tennyson Tinning)
Though Essendon was able to hit the scoreboard with its first goal of the day in the third term, it was Carlton’s most fruitful quarter with five goals, extending the margin to 73 points.
The Bombers showed some fight in the final term to turn it into a scrappy affair, with both teams kicking one goal each for the quarter.
Carlton coach Shannon McFerran said she was delighted with the way her team finished the season.
“We played a fantastic game today,” McFerran said.
“The team has ticked a lot of boxes. We’ve learnt heaps and improved a lot throughout the season.
“As shown today, there is a lot of young talent coming through and I’m really looking forward to the AFLW season.”
CARLTON 4.2 8.2 13.2 14.8 (92)
ESSENDON 0.1 0.1 1.3 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Carlton: Vescio 9, Caris, Harvey, Malouf, McKay, Gietzmann 1
Essendon: Heil, Quigley 1
