THE RIVALRY continues. 

As Carlton and Collingwood prepare to take each other on for the eighth time in AFLW history, there’s no love lost when it comes to this 132-year-old rivalry. 

Collingwood's first ever VFA match was against Carlton in 1892 (28 years after the Blues' inception), and of course, both sides kicked off the AFLW competition back in Round 1, 2017, where Darcy Vescio kicked four goals.

The forward still very much relishes the prospect of facing the old enemy, noting there is something special about being part of Club and competition history.

"I love playing Collingwood. I think coming into the Club seven years ago, we were told that we hate Collingwood and I feel like as the seasons go on, that becomes more true,” Vescio said.

“We respect them, but there’s definitely a rivalry there, which is awesome to be a part of.” 

The Blues won their first three games in AFLW history against the Magpies, but the ledger now sits at 3-4 in the Magpies' favour. However, Carlton now sits one win ahead of Collingwood on the ladder, with the home-and-away season now in its final month.

With a whole new coaching group and structure within the program, it was tough to see where the Blues would sit come this point in the 2023 season, but Vescio agrees there is plenty more in the tank for their group. 

“I think it’s a very exciting time of the year. Round 7, you’re starting to head towards the business end of the season,” they said. 

“I feel like every game we’re getting a bit better – coming into Round 1, it didn’t feel like we were a set entity, it definitely feels like every round there’s hunger to learn and improve what we’re trying to do. 

“The results have been pretty good so far but we’re not playing our best footy: we’re nowhere near it yet.”

Despite the Pies missing some key personnel, Vescio was adamant that the match-up would prove tougher than ever – especially after the opposition's impressive wins in the last fortnight against Essendon and Brisbane.

The Blues’ forward line struggled to click early in the season, but the last four games have shown vast improvement compared to the first few rounds: Carlton ranks No.3 in the competition for points scored in the last month, behind only Melbourne and Adelaide.

“We’re more focused on how we play as a group: we feel like every week we’re getting a little bit better at connecting and not getting in each other’s way,” they said. 

“It does create a different look for Collingwood, so that means we just have to prepare well and looking at the vision may become irrelevant this week, so we have to be ready for anything.”

With Vescio sitting on the more experienced end of the scale, they have enjoyed sitting back and seeing some of the young Carlton talents that are taking ownership of their careers.

Mentioning the likes of Keeley Skepper, Keeley Sherar and Mia Austin, Vescio pinches themselves at how lucky they are to watch the talent that is emerging at IKON Park. 

“It’s pretty amazing seeing their development. I have to remind myself that they’re teenagers,” they said. 

“They’re setting the standards at training rather than us older players feeling like we have to set that – I think they’re really rising to that challenge and making Carlton their own.”