KEEPING it simple.
Thrilled with her side’s result on Friday night, Lucy McEvoy credited the confidence-boosting win to the Blues getting back to basics.
“We really just simplified things this week, particularly coming off the GWS game. We probably expected to perform a little bit better and we’re disappointed with how we've gone so far, no doubt,” McEvoy said on Women’s Footy.
“The result that we had on Friday just proved to each other that we can do it and when we play as a team, it really helps us in the long run.
“It's given us the confidence we need heading into the rest of the season. I think we're really proud of the effort that we put in.”
It was perhaps the Blues' most complete performance of season seven, with the four-quarter effort headlined by a number of impressive individual efforts across the board.
McEvoy was quick to highlight the midfield brilliance of reigning Rising Star Mimi Hill, as well as Abbie McKay, who is putting together a career-best campaign – the pair recorded 26 disposals apiece on Friday night.
“Mimi is incredible – the running capacity that she's got is phenomenal and the duo of her and Abbie in the midfield, they complement each other so well.
"'Mim’s' got that outside run and she can run all day, I can't keep up with her at training at all. She's really mature, she's in our leadership group and the person that she is, is just credit to her. She's hardworking, really dedicated and wants the best from herself and her teammates and you can see that on game day."
Darcy Vescio, who made a surprise switch to the backline, also drew the praise of McEvoy – as did AFLW Senior Coach Daniel Harford for making the bold move.
“They were fantastic for us behind the ball, they read it really well and they're one of our most athletic players that we have – to be able to utilise them behind the ball like that, I think they might be stuck down there,” she said.
“’Harf’ is really creative as a coach and I'm sure he's had it up his sleeve for quite some time now and has had the license to pull the trigger and move ‘Darce’ down back."
While quick to praise her teammates, on an individual note, McEvoy continued her impressive form with 17 disposals, five marks and 330 metres gained against the Saints.
Her stellar season is made all the more impressive in spite of her limited pre-season, which was interrupted by a shoulder injury.
“It wasn't an ideal pre-season. I missed the majority of it and was a test for Round 1 and was thankfully able to get through, and the recovery process from shoulder surgery was really smooth,” she said.
“I didn't have many hiccups at all and I'm really thankful for our medical staff and fitness staff that they were able to get me get me up for Round 1.
“I spent four weeks on a bike and you try and push yourself as hard as you can on the bike but you know it's not the same as running. I feel like I'm a little bit underdone, there's no doubt about it but so far so good: I've been able to play every game this season and feel like I'm keeping up.”
The next challenge for the Blues awaits, with a Pride Round match-up against the Tigers set for Friday night at IKON Park.
Richmond comes into the clash having banked five consecutive wins, but McEvoy believes her side will be able to take it up to the Tigers if they can recreate the football produced in Round 7.
“They'll obviously be high on confidence for sure, and we'll expect them to come really hard," she said.
“It's always a big rivalry between Carlton and Richmond, and we've had the chocolates the last few times, so there's no doubt that they'll be coming at us and we'll expect that.
“I think we can take great confidence from the performance on Friday night into this week and probably not change too much and try and keep things really similar. Now that we know the way we want to play and we know it works, I think not a whole lot will change heading into Richmond.”
