Following Carlton’s 2019 VFLW season, Senior Coach Shannon McFerran provided the following words on the Carlton defenders:
Nicola Burns
Games: 4 | Season-high tackles: 5 (v Southern Saints)
A returning player who came into some good form at the end of the year. Injury interrupted her season.
Gemma Wright
Games: 14 | Avg disposals: 9.7
Gemma has a basketball background and limited football experience, but she was huge down back and cemented her position from the start of the season. Gemma has strong hands and is a great decision-maker. She nullified a number of opposition key forwards throughout the season.
Megan Neill
Games: 11 | Season-high tackles: 5 (v Essendon and Geelong)
The co-captain led from the get-go, displaying a fantastic attitude to become a valuable member of the team. She is a strong and capable defender.
Kicking things off.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) 4 September 2019
We look back on the year of our #VFLWBlues forwards in the first of a three-part review series. #BoundByBlue
Amanda Prins
Games: 12 | Season-high tackles: 9 (v Darebin)
Amanda was a capable defender whose season got better each week. She improved a lot throughout the season.
Isobel Dakis Rofe
Games: 4 | Season-high tackles: 5 (v Darebin)
Isobel is still learning the game but has a strong tackling ability.
Phoebe Chisholm
Games: 8 | Season-high disposals: 8 (v Western Bulldogs)
Phoebe is a young defender who was able to compete with some of the most seasoned opposition players throughout the season.
Inaugural #VFLWBlues Senior Coach Shannon McFerran has stepped down, in order to focus solely on her AFLW role. #BoundByBlue
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) 28 August 2019
Mia-Rae Clifford
Games: 14 | Avg disposals: 9.8
Mia was a fantastic addition to the team this season. She can play anywhere across the ground and displays great leadership.
Charlotte Wilson
Games: 12 | Avg disposals: 8.3
Charlotte is a young key defender who was able to develop in her role down back throughout the season. She also showed promise in stints as a key forward.
Lauren Brazzale
Games: 4 | Avg disposals: 14
Lauren provided plenty of run off half-back and also spent some time in the middle this season.
2019 NAB AFLW Rising Star ✅
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) 30 August 2019
2019 NAB AFL Rising Star ✅
Completing the 2019 set. #BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/MY6IJhA2U1
Emerson Woods
Games: 13 | Avg disposals: 9.7
Emerson is a young player who we saw make her AFLW debut in 2019. She really developed as a defender this VFLW season.
Natalie Plane
Games: 11 | Avg disposals: 13.6
Nat was one of our co-captains this season. She is a terrific leader with elite skills.
Gab Pound
Games: 6 | Avg disposals: 17.8
Gab provided plenty of run off the half-back line throughout the season. We all know what she’s capable of as an All Australian: she’s a small defender who can play tall, while she displayed strong hands on many occasions.
Jess Hosking
Games: 11 | Avg disposals: 17.4
Jess is a great athlete who provided plenty of run off half-back this season. She is maturing as a footballer and refining her craft.