IT WAS the best kind of nail-biter down at North Port Oval on Sunday, with Carlton defeating Essendon by a solitary point in a hectic final stanza.

It wasn’t the case throughout the game however, with Carlton comfortably leading for the other three quarters, holding Essendon to just the one goal until the final term. 

Carlton AFLW Senior Coach Daniel Harford was pleased that his side was able to respond after a disappointing loss to Collingwood last week, but was open about the reality of the fourth-quarter lessons that will take place. 

“I thought for the first three quarters we were the team that deserved to walk away with the four points,” Harford said.  

“We sort of fell away pretty significantly in the last quarter in a couple of areas but in the end, you’re better off learning lessons with four points in the bank than not. 

“In the first couple of weeks you want to get on the board so we’ve done that.”

The Blues were dominant in the hitouts (48-21) through the strong work of best-on-ground Breann Moody, as well as providing the pressure around the ball with 73 tackles in a game where they hung on by the narrowest of margins.

Speaking on the Round 1 loss, Harford admitted that the group weren’t able to showcase their best footy against the physical Pies outfit, hoping that his side would put their brand on display at IKON Park last Thursday. 

This week, however, saw the Blues able to clean up some of the areas that let them down in the season opener, especially in the front half of the ground and on the scoreboard. 

“We were really disappointed with our performance against the Pies, we didn’t really feel like we showed the correct account of ourselves in terms of how we want to play footy,” he said. 

“That was the focus: trying to get back more on our style and a way of playing that represents what we are: we had much more of that in the first three quarters [on Sunday]. 

“I think we had 19 or 20 forward-50 tackles, we had four last week, so it was a totally different dynamic throughout our game.” 

One of the particularly bright sparks for the game was the performance of debutant Keeley Skepper, who managed a goal, 14 disposals, seven contested possessions and four score involvements in her very first AFLW outing. 

The 18-year-old - alongside fellow first-round draftee Mia Austin (three inside 50 tackles, one goal) - were physical in the forward 50, bringing the ball to ground and getting the job done in front of goal when the pressure was on. 

“I thought ‘Skep’ was magnificent,” he said.

“She’s a really energetic player and to see her get involved so early, she had a couple of touches early which I think settled her nerves, and then to be able to go back and kick a goal when she needed to was pretty significant as well.

“The tackling pressure from her and Mia Austin, two really young players - 'Skep' in her first game and Mia in her second game - and their forward 50 tackle pressure was enormous.”

On the other side of the scale, Harford praised the work of his senior players and their ability to lead in all areas of the ground. 

Having Gab Pound down back picking up five intercepts and Jess Dal Pos in the forward line laying six tackles, the ground was sufficiently bookended with leadership and talent, giving captain Kerryn Peterson the ability to hone her craft on the wing. 

“Jess Dal Pos was huge in that forward half in the way that she led that unit for us and her pressure at ground level,” he said. 

“All of our leaders were fabulous and Gab [Pound] is certainly one of those, she’s been around for a long time now so we expect good performances from her. 

“I think ‘Kez’ did a hell of a job on the wing, a new role for her which was great.” 

Speaking on Peterson’s positional change, Harford was adamant that while the change wasn’t permanent, it provides flexibility for both the team and the captain herself.

“If we’ve got good matchups that can work behind the ball, then we can free ‘Kez’ up a bit,” he said. 

“She reads the ball so well, she gets back and helps, she moves forward really aggressively as well and makes great decisions and can lead the contest work too. 

“There’s a lot to like about it. I don’t know if it will be every week, but it’s nice to have that up our sleeve.” 

While it looked like a completely different Carlton side to last week, Harford attributed some of the lift in performance to getting reward for effort in front of goal. 

Being able to lock the ball in their forward 50 produced more opportunities to score for the Blues, with Harford specifically referencing the work of Darcy Vescio, who slotted three goals and provided a target in the forward half to assist their teammates in hitting the scoreboard.

“To get some reward for effort helps, not just for them but for our team: when Darcy’s doing things, our team lifts, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. 

“Darce is one of those players that you just have to defend really tightly. 

“They’re so talented when the ball is on the deck or in the air, it doesn’t really matter, they’re more than capable of any situation and to see them dominate the first half like they did was brilliant.”