CARLTON has confirmed some early selection news prior to this weekend’s Round 1 clash with Hawthorn.

Lulu Beatty will play her first game in the AFLW competition this Sunday, on the back of a standout pre-season for the second-year Blue.

Recruited to the Blues in the 2023 AFLW Supplementary Draft as the first player in the door following the appointment of Mathew Buck, Beatty was unavailable for selection in her first campaign after being placed on the inactive list due to a foot injury.

But the young defender left no stone unturned throughout the lengthy pre-season at IKON Park, impressing for the Blues’ VFLW side while also featuring in the AFLW side’s practice matches against Melbourne and Adelaide.

While the final side will be announced on Friday, Beatty revealed on SEN that she received the news earlier in the week — and her reaction said it all.

“I didn’t know, I found out when everyone else found out. I was sitting there listening to ‘Bucky’ talking hoping it was about me, thinking ‘don’t cry until he says your name’.

“I had to quickly call Mum and Dad, I was bawling and my dad asked ‘oh no, are you injured?’. No, I’m fine, I’m playing.

“You never know. We’re really lucky that we’ve got great squad depth this year and I knew I was competing with some really good players. I wouldn’t know who to pick if it was me in that position, but I felt like I had put my best foot forward so I was really hopeful.”