A TEAM effort.
Senior Coach Mathew Buck was pleased with the Blues’ 24-point win over the Cats at IKON Park, stating the team’s collective effort got them over the line.
Keeping Geelong to their lowest score ever, it was Carlton’s contest and pressure around the ball that put the away side on the back foot.
Here’s what he had to say.
On the game as a whole:
“I’m really pleased with the team. We knew Geelong were a great side and that the contest would be hot and we thought if we could bring our best, we’d be right in the game and it kind of felt like it went our way and it was a Carlton game. I’m proud of the team.”
On the midfield efforts:
“We thought there was an opportunity there, Geelong had some key personnel missing today and we really like our rucks, so they were exceptional giving our players first use.
“I thought Maddy Guerin was terrific and probably swung the game our way early. Abbie McKay and Mimi Hill spent a little bit of time as well, Keeley Sherar, Lily Goss plays her role as well.
“They went and executed the plan and did their role really well. Hats off to those girls, they played really well.”
On Maddy Guerin’s game and confidence:
“She is a natural goalkicker. It’s backing her in to go for it. She has this real power when she drives out of the contest but also when she kicks the ball, she can kick it a long way.
“She nailed that one and it was really good to see. She’s had a great pre-season off a knee reconstruction and she’s three games in and she’s been a great player for us today and hopefully she’ll continue that great form moving forward.”
On executing the game plan:
“I think it reinforces what we went after during the pre-season. We weren’t happy with our Round 1 performance, but to turn up in the last two games and execute what we’ve gone after has been really great.
“To do it here at IKON Park in front of the Carlton fans, the noise was great. We’re happy with our win but we’re not surprised with how we went.”
On the impact of Darcy Vescio:
“‘Darce’ had a real impact on our scoring last week. The score involvement is something that is Darcy’s strength as well.
“We want to free Darce up as much as we can, their ability to run has improved from last year so we’ll look to utilise Darcy in a few different positions. They played more forward today than they did last week.”
On Harriet Cordner’s 50th game:
“Heart-and-soul player comes to mind when I think of Harriet. Somebody who drives standards, looks after herself really well but then drives the group.
“She has a great understanding of individuals will do their own thing, need to be taught in different ways, so with some people she’ll bring them in nice and close but others she’ll hit them between the eyes with how they’re going, that’s me included.
“She’s an exceptional player for us, she locked down a little harder than she needed to last week, but it’s the versatility of her game that we like about her.”
On the work of the defence and the whole-team defence:
“We talk a lot about contest and defence. It’s probably not just our backs that get it done, but the whole squad who want to defend hard and work together, we do a lot of work on that throughout the week.
“To do that against a quality opposition, I think rings true for our players with what we’re going after and it’s starting to work for us. There were some individuals in the background but it was a great team defensive performance.”
On the matchup next Thursday against the Tigers:
“It’ll be great to be here, get the fans back in, let's take on the Tigers. They’ve had a good win and it will be another hotly contested game I’m sure.”
