DESPITE a powerful fourth-quarter performance, Carlton went down to an impressive Western Bulldogs outfit by 18 points.

A back-and-forth start was expected as both sides attempted to find their footing in the windy weather. 

In the blink of an eye, the Bulldogs surged forward leaving the Blues with work to do.

Katie Prendergast made her Carlton debut after moving from the Southern Saints, and Amy Trindale also played her inaugural VFLW game, hailing from the Calder Cannons.

Some unlucky moments for Carlton hurt their momentum in the first half, leaving the Western Bulldogs with a 22-point lead at half time.

The Blues finished the first 20 minutes scoreless, but there were plenty of positive takeaways going into the first break. 

The ball movement in the Blues’ midfield was clean for the most part, but the Bulldogs upped their tackling game, turning the ball over and scoring from their opportunities.

Carlton ramped up the intensity near the end of the third quarter, keeping the Western Bulldogs quieter compared to their first-half performance. 

Carlton was winning enough of the ball to keep turning their opposition's heads but was unable to find the open space due to the hard structural pressure from the opposition. 

It all started to go the Blues’ way after the last break, not allowing the Bulldogs to enter their forward 50 until halfway through the fourth quarter. 

The three goals for the Navy Blue were kicked in the last quarter, causing some pressure on the Dogs.

Right out of the gates, Mel Staunton kicked Carlton’s first goal for the game, and it never looked like missing.

Staunton had an impressive second half making use of her experience amongst a younger forward line. She continued presenting composure and pressure during contests where the Bulldogs had the numbers advantage.

The shift of Darcy Vescio (21 disposals, six marks and three tackles) from the midfield to the forward line was the boost the Blues needed to keep the ball rolling. 

Emily Hurley (27 hitouts and 13 disposals) held her space down the field to mark the ball from an opposition kick and utilised her big boot to send the ball to Co-Captain Eliza Wood (16 disposals and three marks) in the middle.

Wood turned on the burners and had eyes for Vescio and Vescio only, holding the backspace. A strong mark with the ball landing right in their arms gave the key forward plenty of time and space to kick their first goal of the day.

A copy and paste of the previous play, Vescio kicked their second goal, continuing their fine form and bringing some hope to Carlton, reducing the deficit to 16 points.

It was too late though as the Blues fell to the Bulldogs filled with plenty of talent across the field with the likes of Ashleigh Snow, Ellie Blackburn and Keeley Hardingham who were monumental in the red, white and blue.

Match summary

WESTERN BULLDOGS                         2.1     3.6      5.7       6.7 (43)
CARLTON                             0.0     0.2      0.4       3.7 (25)

GOALS
Vescio (2), Staunton

BEST
Duursma, Khoury, Robertson, Sherar, Staunton, Vescio