A CHILDHOOD Bluebagger living out her dream.
For Amelia Velardo, pulling on the Navy Blue guernsey for the first time can only be described as “surreal.”
“It was awesome coming to Carlton, the group have been incredible in the way that they made me feel, and it's been such an enriching experience and something that I've really, really cherished,” Velardo said.
“Pulling on the Navy Blue for the first time was a bit surreal but it's just been an awesome season of growth.”
The lifelong Carlton supporter played eight games in her first season for the Blues, pushing further into the midfield and accumulating more minutes in the engine room than her previous two seasons in black and white.
“Being in the midfield was a new position for me this year, coming from the wing and having a bit of experience around the ground,” she said.
With a new position came new challenges for Velardo, which she says will provide the foundation she needs to continue to develop through her AFLW career.
“I do definitely have a lot of growth in my game that I probably wasn't able to reach just yet, but there's a lot that I've got planned for in the off-season and going forward that I'm really excited to build on and show not only the group, but the staff and the fan base that I have to offer,” she said.
“Building my knowledge in the midfield and building connection with the other girls in there as well. Working on getting consistency in my game, whether that's through stamina or power and getting the ball in my hands a little bit more to hopefully make my teammates the best that I can as well.”
Having crossed from the Pies between seasons six and seven, Velardo was also tasked with building connections quickly, ahead of a short turnaround from her arrival at IKON Park and taking the field to face her former side in the season opener.
“You move from a team that you've been a part of for so long and you know everyone and the relationships you have are just second nature. Coming into a new group I think, you do take for granted how different it is.
“The group have just made it so easy to seamlessly fit in and they've all been incredible in helping me make Carlton my home. It is tough with the shorter season, but somehow I’ve still managed to make it feel like home really quickly.
And while the entire playing group welcomed Velardo with open arms, there were a few players who the 20-year-old looked toward for guidance.
“‘Kez’ obviously being natural leader, just through the way that she acts and goes about it, she is a great role model,” she said.
“Lucy McEvoy as well is someone that I got to know pretty well this season and I think is an incredible player and person on and off the field so is someone else that I've linked up with to grow into this season.”
Despite the “whirlwind” season, Velardo already has one eye on what’s to come.
“I think as a group we've really come together on a lot of aspects and as a whole, I'm just so excited for what we're going to achieve in the next few seasons.”
“I'll definitely take a little bit of time off to get the body right. I'm really hoping to get into training as soon as possible and build on those things and those growth areas that I'm hoping for and come back really strong next year.”
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