IT WAS a welcome return to IKON Park, as the Blues delivered an electric second half to take home a 28-point win over the Demons. 

In windy and wet conditions at home, it was Keeley Sherar who shone for Carlton, picking up 24 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal, with the AFLW-listed midfielder showing off her speed and class with ball in hand. 

Chloe Wrigley amassed a game-high 17 tackles and Ashlee Thorneycroft totalled 22 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, using her leadership at both ends of the field. 

After two lacklustre weeks, the Blues finished on a high as they held their own against the Demons. 

Quarter one 

Casey got off to a hot start, kicking the first two goals of the game within the first five minutes. The ball lived in Casey’s forward half, with the Blues struggling to register an inside 50 until the halfway mark of the term. Keeley Sherar was the general through the middle, using her speed to drive the ball forward.  Ashlee Thorneycroft got the Blues first goal on the board after a slog to pin the ball in their front half. The rest of the quarter was end to end footy, with neither side able to make any scoreboard impact. The Blues went into the second term trailing by nine points. 

Quarter two

The Blues did well to use controlled kicking on the switch across the backline, but couldn’t be as clean moving forward. Bry Gurr was strong on the last line of defence, keeping the ball away from the goal square, whilst Octavia Di Donato provided some long kicks down the line across half back. Mia Cowan got her first on the board towards the end of the term, followed quickly by Millie Klingbeil, giving Carlton some momentum heading into the main break. 

Quarter three

It was all the Blues in the third term, kicking away from the wind and slotting four goals in the process. Sherar’s goal was a reward for effort, with the midfielder dominating the play through the centre, whilst two majors for Cowan highlighted her work rate and positioning in front of her player. Klingbeil was vital in setting up inside 50s, giving her teammates the best opportunity to hit the scoreboard. Carlton marched into the final quarter 28-points ahead. 

Quarter four 

The Demons did their best to claw their way back, ramping up their pressure to swarm the Blues. The majority of the term was played between the arcs, neither side able to break open the contest. Chloe Wrigley continued her elite tackling form (finishing the game with 17) as Carlton did their best to their lead. Two goals from Casey did wonders for their momentum, making for some nervous moments for Carlton, as the lead dwindled and their kicking for goal became inaccurate. Luckily, time ran down and Carlton were on the winning side of the ledger as they final siren rang, taking home a 20-point victory. 

Match summary

CARLTON            1.1    3.3     7.3      7.7 (49)
CASEY                 2.4    2.5     2.5     4.5 (29)

Goals: Cowan 3, Di Donato, Klingbeil, Sherar, Thorneycroft

Best: Sherar, Thorneycroft, Wrigley, Di Cosmo, Cowan, Klingbeil.