CARLTON’s VFLW side has made seven changes ahead of its first game at Ikon Park against the Darebin Falcons on Saturday.

Danica Pedersen has been named for her first game for the Blues at centre-half back, after recently arriving from Essendon. Pedersen previously played at the St Kilda Sharks, where she formed a relationship with Shannon McFerran.

Uncompromising defender Caitlin Williams and crafty forward Louella McCarthy have also been recalled.

They’re joined by AFLW-listed Blues Bridie Kennedy, Sophie Li, Tilly Lucas-Rodd and Kate Shierlaw as the inclusions for the Round 5 clash.

Li and Lucas-Rodd will be welcome additions to Carlton’s on-ball brigade, with Jess and Sarah Hosking and Breann Moody alongside them.

It’ll be a significant test for the Blues, as they look to return to the winners list after back-to-back losses against two of the competition's best sides. Darebin has bounced back from a slow start to the season, winning its past two games after big changes over the summer.

The game will mark the first in the inaugural VFL/VFLW Blues double-header at Ikon Park. This match against the Falcons gets underway at 11:30am, before the Northern Blues take on Geelong from 2pm.

Please note, the start time for the Round 5 VFLW game has been changed after initially being scheduled to start at 11am.

CARLTON'S ROUND 5 VFLW TEAM:

INS: L. McCarthy, B. Kennedy, D. Pedersen, C. Williams, T. Lucas–Rodd, K. Shierlaw, S. Li

OUTS: D.Vescio, L. Brazzale, I. Gietzmann, R. Hicks, T. Hanks, C. Moody, L. Arnell