THE BLUES couldn't get the job done in the opening game of the 2022 AFLW season.
Falling to Collingwood by 19 points, Carlton weren't able to capitalise in front of goal or stem Collingwood's flow down the ground.
Quarter one
The Blues started off with a bang, with Lucy McEvoy snapping a goal through congestion in the forward 50. Carlton dominated in the middle, with Jess Good and Brea Moody leading the charge in the ruck (8-2 hitouts). Georgia Gee set the tone with her physical pressure while Daisy Walker’s ability to move the ball forward from defence was impressive. The Pies dominated territory for the second half of the term, but desperation from Mua Laloifi and Kerryn Harrington saw the Game Changers take a slender two-point lead into the first change.
Quarter two
The contest ramped up in physicality, with the Blues able to surge the ball forward with some intelligent play. Gab Pound and Lauren Brazzale laid some important tackles on the wing, but Collingwood’s first of the day putting the visitors in front and swung the momentum the Magpies’ way. Abbie McKay was a key pillar in the midfield outfit, but the Blues were down an on-baller with Grace Egan not returning to the field after a rib injury. Unfortunately, the Blues couldn’t capitalise on their possession in front of goal, and three consecutive majors saw the Pies take a 16-point lead into the main break.
Quarter three
The Blues had the start they were looking for with Courtney Jones slotting her first AFLW goal in the opening seconds of the quarter. A quick reply from the Pies pulled the margin back to 17 points, before McKay secured her long-awaited first goal with an impressive overhead snap as the Blues desperately tried to close the gap. McEvoy and Daisy Walker provided some classy intercept marks in defence while the experience of Nic Stevens and Vescio worked the ball forward, but again, the Blues were unable to capitalise on their time in the forward 50.
Quarter four
A Collingwood goal in the opening minutes put the heat on Carlton in the last quarter. Despite leading hitouts and clearances, the Blues weren’t able to get it done in their forward half, allowing the Pies to move the ball quickly and cleanly into dangerous territory. Maddy Prespakis and McKay continued to battle in the midfield, feeling the loss of Grace Egan who didn’t return to the field after half time. In defence, debutant Paige Trudgeon kept Sabrina Frederick goalless, as did skipper Harrington against Magpies star Chloe Molloy.
Three things we learned
- Jess Good and Brea Moody proved a very strong duo in the ruck in their first match alongside one another. Leading the hitouts 37 to nine, the pair did their best to guide the ball into the midfielders’ hands, proving to be extremely reliable throughout the whole game and were a large part in Carlton’s early clearance dominance.
- Maddy Prespakis and Abbie McKay did their best to keep the midfield running with the loss of Grace Egan. Collecting 16 and 13 disposals respectively, the duo were pivotal in moving the ball and creating tough contests.
- There were moments of clean play that were overshadowed by lack of composure and an inability to stem Collingwood’s flow. While the Game Changers did their best to get the ball forward, they lacked accuracy in finding targets inside 50 and countering Collingwood’s dominance on the outside.
Moment of the match
There’s nothing like your first goal in the elite competition. The Blues had two in this game, and both came in quick succession.
The first was from Courtney Jones, who marked her debut three years in the making with a third-quarter goal. Minutes later, Abbie McKay produced an instinctive snap to get on the board in game No.13.
While the result wasn’t what they would’ve hoped, they won’t forget the moments which saw their teammates get to them immediately and celebrate.
CARLTON 1.0 1.2 3.4 3.7 (25)
COLLINGWOOD 0.4 3.6 4.7 6.8 (44)
GOALS
Carlton: Jones, McEvoy, McKay
BEST
Carlton: Prespakis, McKay, Moody, Harrington
Crowd: 3,511 at IKON Park
