IT WAS as close as it gets at IKON Park as the Blues took on the Cats in Round 2 of the rebel VFLW season. 

Heading into the game full of confidence after their Round 1 win over Port Melbourne, Carlton were locked in a seesawing battle against Geelong - with the opposition sneaking away with a one-point win in a tightly-contested affair.

Ashlee Thorneycroft was dominant with her physicality, laying 13 tackles and kicking a goal, while Madeleine Di Cosmo managed 24 disposals, eight clearances and a goal. 

Quarter one  

It was a physical game from the get go, but the Blues were smart and clean with their ball movement between the arcs, able to create good chains of play up the field. Despite being efficient around the ground, Carlton had trouble hitting targets in the forward 50. Defensively, the Blues were able to absorb the opposition's pressure - forcing the contest to remain in their attacking half and restricting the Cats to just one inside 50 for the term. A goal finally came off the boot of Madeleine Di Cosmo late in the quarter – reward for effort after the Blues pinned the ball in their forward 50.

Quarter two 

The second term was completely opposite to the first, with Geelong controlling the play able to keep the ball locked in their forward line for the majority of the term. Carlton’s defence were up for the test, however, only conceding one goal for the term. Ashley Thorneycroft was immense with her physicality, laying nine tackles up to half time, while Di Cosmo was crucial in the middle, picking up 13 disposals with her centre clearance work, along with six tackles. The Blues had a surge of momentum in the last three minutes, securing possession and territory in their forward half to head into the main break two-points down. 

Quarter three 

It was end-to-end play the entire quarter, with neither side able to maintain possession. The Blues did well to keep the Cats scoreless, but were unable to capitalise on their opportunities, scoring a singular behind. Millie Klingbeil stepped up in the third, using her speed and clean disposal to get things moving in the contest, whilst the ruck duo of Megan Runting and Emily Hurley battled it out around the stoppages giving their teammates plenty of opportunities around the ground. Carlton headed into the final quarter one point behind. 

Quarter four 

It was neck and neck within a few minutes, with Chloe Bain tumbling a behind through. Kasey Lennox provided some strong intercept marks in defence, quelling the Cats attack and resulting in a Thorneycroft goal down the other end. Unfortunately, an instant reply from Geelong put them one point ahead in the dying minutes of the game. Despite some fast play out of the centre, the Blues were unable to get another score on the board, falling by a singular point. 

Summary: 

CARLTON 1.5 1.6 1.7 2.9 (21)

GEELONG 0.1 2.2 2.2 3.4 (22)

GOALS: Thorneycroft, DiCosmo

BEST: Di Cosmo, Thorneycroft, Kleingbeil, Bernardi, Bain

Up next: 

Round 3

Essendon v Carlton

Saturday 8 April

1:00PM (AEST)

NEC Hanger