FOR LIFELONG Bluebagger Tara Bohanna, walking into IKON Park as a Carlton player was a surreal feeling.
After four seasons with Gold Coast, including three as captain, the 29-year-old was traded to Carlton during the AFLW Trade Period, marking her return to Victoria.
“It’s really cool to be here officially,” Bohanna said.
“I’ve got my family here with me and they’re all mad Carlton supporters. It’s nice to meet a lot of the new draftees, the players, the staff members and put some faces to names.
“I’m excited to make it official and get around the Club.”
Returning to Victoria wasn’t Bohanna’s primary focus during contract negotiations. Instead, her decision was driven by where she believed she could play her best football.
As a three-time leading goalkicker for the Suns, the forward is eager to discover what she can learn from the Blues while also bringing her experience to the team’s promising young lineup.
“It was a really hard decision to make given I was captain there and I really love the girls and the club. But it felt like for myself and for my football and the longevity of my football career, Carlton seemed like a really good move,” she said.
“The footy is the first priority and the first reason, then my family all being here and being mad Carlton supporters definitely adds a nice touch.”
Drawing on her three years of experience as captain, Bohanna hopes to help guide the talented emerging forward line while bringing her skills and leadership to the Club as a whole.
Arriving with a fresh perspective, the 29-year-old is excited about the opportunity to integrate into a dynamic young lineup.
“I like to think I can support the forward line and hopefully kick some goals to help bring the ball forward,” she said.
“I have some natural leadership qualities, being the captain at Gold Coast, that I can bring to a younger forward line and hopefully just the team in general. I hope I can add something different with new eyes.”
With young talents like Keeley Skepper, Mia Austin, and Lila Keck buzzing in the forward half, Bohanna will have no shortage of energy to feed off from her younger teammates.
Renowned for her passion for goal celebrations, the forward is full of enthusiasm and eager to bring that spirit to her new team.
“I had ‘Skep’ there already talking about some goal celebrations that we’re going to practice,” she admitted.
“I love the energy that they can bring and I hope to bring some energy too.
"Hopefully, I can teach them a bit but I hope I can learn from them too, I know they’re very crafty. Mia is down there as well, the same as the Moody sisters – will be cool to work closely with all of them.”
