WITH THE dust settling on the 2024 season, a period of reflection has fallen over the Blues.

A key talking point across the league was the condensed fixture, which saw the season expand to 11 games over a 10-week home-and-away period.

To achieve this, all 18 teams played a block of games in a short period.

Carlton was tasked with playing four times over 16 days – all four games against teams set to play finals this year – and the schedule naturally took a physical toll on players.

Carlton captain Kerryn Peterson was among those affected, suffering a shoulder injury in the opening quarter against Richmond.

Peterson subsequently missed three games in a nine-day period, having to watch her team struggle from the sidelines.

Despite her injury, Peterson – along with co-vice captains Mimi Hill and Abbie McKay – had to focus on maintaining the team's resilience and motivation during this period.

“It was as much from my perspective and the other leaders’ to try and remind the players about what we were doing really well during that time, reminding them that we prepared for this, we’re in really good shape physically to get through it,” Peterson said on The Rundown podcast.

“I think it speaks to the professional attitudes of the players – which have come so far in such a short amount of time across the whole league, not just here at Carlton.

“If something like that had been thrown at us years ago, I don’t think we would’ve handled it as well as we did – we’re just in such a better position now as professional athletes than we’ve ever been.”

This season also saw a change in the Blues' leadership structure, aiming to spread the responsibilities more evenly across the entire group and each line.

While Peterson, Hill, and McKay served as on-field leaders in their roles as captain and co-vice captains, senior Blues Darcy Vescio, Gab Pound, Harriet Cordner, and Jess Good stepped up as off-field mentors.

“We depended a lot on the senior players who weren’t necessarily in a named leadership position this year, but they certainly had a big responsibility within the group,” Peterson said.

“That helped on-field leaders like Abs, Mim, and myself to delegate responsibility and ensure no one was overlooked, and everything was covered.

"We leaned on each other a bit more than in the past, utilizing the unique strengths those players brought as well."

While Good has grown in her mentorship role off the field, she has also developed on the field, becoming the mainstay ruck following her move to defense.

Averaging almost 25 hitouts in her fourth AFLW season, Good’s best game came in the Blues’ final match of 2024 against Essendon, notching a career-high 40 hitouts.

Senior Coach Mathew Buck praised Good, saying her best is yet to come.

“Goodie’s understanding of our system and game plan is really strong," Buck said.

"She also has a great awareness of her strengths, and that’s why the midfield group enjoys working with her because they know exactly what to expect."

"[She’s had] a very consistent season in a tough year, and I think she’d be really happy with her progress. There’s even greater growth ahead for Jess Good.”

Longtime friend and former basketball teammate of Good, Peterson, also noted the progress of the 30-year-old in her short football career.

Recognizing the professional standards Good values, the captain shared her admiration for her friend’s rapid growth in the AFLW space.

"She's going to bring her voice, her energy; she's really smart ... she reads the game well, and her body positioning around stoppages is something the other players lean on," Peterson said.

"It's not just the role she plays; it's the way she allows others to excel with her craft."