WITH Carlton heading into the final month of the season sitting sixth on the ladder, the focus has been on the shift in momentum and impressive turn-around the Blues have had in 2023.
Although it has been a team effort and a whole-Club approach that has provided the results, defender Amelia Velardo was full of praise toward her teammate’s individual performances that have helped set up the four Carlton wins this season.
Speaking to Carlton Media after Friday night’s victory over the Western Bulldogs, Velardo spoke highly of her teammate’s ability to translate the work they’ve been putting in at training into strong game-day results, with the team aware of the key improvement areas.
“We’ve really gone too work on our ‘chain verse surge’ and we have some great ball users in the middle, Mimi Hill, Keeley Sherar and Abbie McKay have all stepped up to another level this season” Velardo said.
“Their ability to do the work on the inside and get it to the outside to to Keeley Skepper - who has a weapon of a left foot - so the balance between using the hands and getting it on the foot is something we’ve definitely gone to work on “.
A focus for the Blues this season has been their contest work and working the ball out from stoppages - something Velardo has seen first hand - with the work of rucks Jess Good and Brea Moody being something that she believes is pivotal to the flow of Carlton’s game.
The experienced campaigners aren’t the only ones who are putting in eye-catching efforts.
Sherar’s constant improvement is something that Velardo gave high praise - along with her teammates and coaches - with her 27 disposals, eight tackles and nine contested possessions earning her a perfect ten AFLCA votes.
“We pride ourselves on our contest and we’re so lucky to have a strong group who are going to work in the midfield, with the balance between ‘Moods’ and ‘Goodie’ working in the ruck and being able to our midfield weapons,” she said.
“Keeley Sherar has just gone to a new level this year in particular, I just love seeing her work, watching her from the backline is something that I’m loving.”
Velardo’s embracing of her teammates’ performances is the culmination of Senior Coach Mathew Buck's emphasis on being a supportive teammate and who his players want to be as a team.
Buck and his staff have instilled the value of recognising the great individual efforts that go into a winning performance, all while working as a cohesive unit and having the full commitment of the players.
“'Bucky' has drilled into us that our biggest thing this season is who we want to become as a team, and being a good teammate is at the forefront of that," she said.
“We know if we do all the little things right to make each other better we’ll see all of that come into our game.
“The foundation and our goals this season have been to become a great unit and to see where that connection and development with each other can take us”.
