SENIOR Coach Mathew Buck was very pleased with the way his Blues were able to bounce back after a wobbly start to the season.
Drawing on their lessons from the Hawthorn clash, Carlton were able to maintain their pressure and composure to pull off a one-point victory over Gold Coast.
Here's what he had to say.
On the result:
"I thought our contest was really strong today and I think Gold Coast are a good contested side. Charlie Rowbottom is a star of the competition and I think our midfield stood up around the contest part of the game and our clearance was strong as well.
"Overall, we’re really happy with the result, but the shift in how we played last week to this week and the growth that we’ve had."
On the lessons from last week:
"We learnt some lessons last week and spent a lot of time unpacking what’s important to us and what we need to focus on.
"Today was probably a lot more about us and we’ll just go and play brave and try and be as attacking as we can be with the ball and I thought we saw that late, it was a bit of heart-in-your-mouth stuff. We managed to execute late and get over the line."
On the first use of the 'score assist' technology:
?I think the technology is great to have here, you get the decisions 100 per cent correct. It was used and fortunately, we were on the right side of it on this occasion, so we’re really happy with it.
"We see it so much in the men's game that we don’t spend a lot of time talking about it, we enjoy the breather and when it goes your way, you’ve got the energy and off you go."
First win feels 🫶 pic.twitter.com/PvQru6L3ti
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) September 8, 2024
On the lead changes throughout the match:
"We try not to ride the momentum of the game too much, we want to execute our style and the way that’s important to us. We knew Gold Coast were a quality side so they’re going to have moments in the game that they’re going to get on top and we need to make sure we take ours.
"I thought we held strong with that and they managed not to go into their shells and execute well."
On the atmosphere in Mackay:
"We’ve been up in Mackay for a few days now enjoying the sunshine, it’s an amazing facility here at Great Barrier Reef Arena and we’ve enjoyed every minute, it’s an unbelievable surface.
"I think from here we go to home games at IKON, so our first home game against Geelong next week which we’re really excited about."
