BEST friends. Housemates. Teammates.
 
Dayna Finn and Maddy Hendrie have gone through every step of their Carlton journey together since walking through the doors of IKON Park in 2023.
 
While their first season was filled with excitement, awe and plenty of ups and downs, both players are ready to get to work in 2024.

 “It is such a condensed and intense season, especially being in and out of the side last year you realise how important it is to have a good preseason and a good first two practice matches,” Hendrie said.
 
With Finn having previously represented Ireland in basketball, Hendrie noted how she has drawn inspiration from Finn on how to approach her own career as a professional athlete.
 
“In your first year, you’re in awe of the whole process – I hadn’t ever been in such a professional setting so I was very much a bit dazed and in heaven last year (and I still am in heaven),” she said.
 
“But I’m more knuckled down, focused, and go about my business a bit more professionally than I did last year.”
 
Sunday’s practice match against Adelaide was a tale of two halves, and while recapping the game on The Rundown podcast, the two second-year players noted the difference between the team being proactive versus reactive against strong opposition.

 “I think we waited for them to attack and we were second to the ball, whether that was inside the midfield or as a back unit being more reactive instead of proactive so that was the message at half time, which I do think we delivered in the second half,” Hendrie said.
 
“When we bring the heat we’re so effective," Finn added

"Everything starts from the contest and once we get clearance from that and can connect to our forward 50 – [as well as] having contest and defence as our main focus throughout every review – is probably a big thing.

"That’s where it starts, and we get momentum from that."
 
With Carlton having three interstate trips in the upcoming 2024 season, Finn also described how valuable getting the trips in early is for the team.

 “[Interstate games] are definitely more mentally taxing, with the travel you kind of start game day on the Friday,” she explained.
 
“It’s nice to get that team connection and team bonding [on the trips],” Hendrie added.
 
With Round 1 against Hawthorn now less than two weeks away, the Blues will look to review their two pre-season hitouts and make small adjustments to their executions, while also continuing to build the connection within the team.
 
“It is such a chaotic, condensed season being mentally and physically ready, so working a lot with our 'psych' and knowing what each other needs [will be important]” Hendrie said.
 
“We’re all great friends and it’s so great being around each other all the time but it’s just probably managing that balance because this is work."