CARLTON has fallen agonisingly short of a famous win at Casey Fields, defeated by one point against Melbourne.
In the final game of the season, the Blues went toe to toe with a Demons outfit fresh off one of the most dominant performances in AFLW history last week.
When all was said and done, the Game Changers - with 11 players aged 22-and-under - fell just short, but it was a performance to be proud of to round out 2022.
Quarter one:
Carlton battled resolutely kicking into the breeze in the opening term, holding Melbourne scoreless in the opening 10 minutes. Melbourne eventually managed to break through in its search for its 14th consecutive win at the home venue, kicking two goals to take a 15-point lead into the first change. It was a sign of the Blues having their backs to the wall that Gab Pound led the team’s disposal count with seven, alongside Mimi Hill.
Quarter two:
Brea Moody set the tone from the opening bounce in what proved to be a fruitful second quarter for the Game Changers. Continuing her trend of recent weeks, the two goals from Nicola Stevens were of the highest quality, with set shot majors from Jess Good and Keeley Sherar keeping the Blues well and truly in the contest at the main break. Mua Laloifi’s pressure and tenacity across the back half was noticeable, which resonated throughout the playing group: the Game Changers had amassed 42 tackles in the opening two terms.
Quarter three:
Sans for a late goal in the closing stages, it was almost the perfect quarter from Daniel Harford’s perspective from the Blues. Needing to restrict the damage on the scoreboard into the breeze, the Game Changers held firm, with Melbourne only having a Daisy Pearce goal to show for its third-quarter efforts. Maddy Guerin was playing inspired football in her first game against the old side, leading all comers with 17 disposals at the final change.
Quarter four:
It was a gruelling final quarter to watch at Casey Fields, with both teams putting their bodies on the line in each and every contest. With Melbourne needing a win to cement a week off and Carlton looking to end its campaign on a high, the ball bounced from end to end with both defences holding up well. Nicola Stevens’ third goal following an outstanding Courtney Jones tackle gave the Blues life, but a tough set shot chance in the final minute from Darcy Vescio wasn’t enough as the Game Changers fell by the narrowest of margins.
Three things we learned
- It may have been a one-point loss on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t through a want of trying. The Game Changers produced their best performance of the season against a Melbourne team with everything to play for, and came up just short at arguably the most difficult place to get a result in the competition.
- Take a bow, Paige Trudgeon. The second-year Blue did her reputation as arguably Carlton’s most-improved player no shame, blanketing former teammate Tayla Harris who finished goalless from six disposals. Led by Mua Laloifi and Kerryn Harrington in the back half, Trudgeon was a crucial part of a defensive unit that fought like their lives depended on it.
- In her first game against her former side, Maddy Guerin produced her best performance to date. Come the end of the game, Guerin had the equal-most disposals of any Blue - alongside NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star candidate Mimi Hill - while also contributing 12 tackles. It was a display which had it all from an offensive and defensive standpoint.
MELBOURNE 2.3 4.3 5.3 5.4 (34)
CARLTON 0.0 4.1 4.1 5.3 (33)
GOALS
Carlton: Stevens 3, Good, Sherar
BESTS
Carlton: Guerin, Moody, Laloifi, Stevens, Hill, Trudgeon, Sherar
