ON the eve of Carlton's 2018 AFLW Best and Fairest proudly presented by Anaconda, we take a look at the standout player performances which are set to shape the voting:
TAYLA HARRIS: ROUND 1 v COLLINGWOOD
Stats: 7 kicks, 3 handballs, 5 marks, 3 contested marks, 1 goal
Harris started her Carlton career on the right foot, with a commanding performance against the old enemy in Round 1.
Her trademark contested marking was on full display including a towering pack mark which landed her the AFLW Mark of the Year and led to her first goal for the Blues.
She regularly pushed up the ground to win the ball, and her defensive work-rate was a huge difference-maker in a tight win.
Under pressure to perform after a high-profile trade in the off-season, Harris delivered in spades in her debut as a Game Changer.
BRIANNA DAVEY: ROUND 2 v GWS
Stats: 13 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 tackles, 9 contested possessions
Davey’s match and season were cruelly cut short by a knee injury in the fourth quarter, but she was the dominant player on the ground to that point.
With coach Damien Keeping absent, she showed the leadership that has made her one of the most respected players in the competition, and she marshalled the backline superbly in tough conditions.
Her 16 disposals were a team-high and she barely wasted a possession, operating with 81.3 per cent disposal efficiency.
In her side’s first ever away win, she showed the Blues what they would sorely miss for the rest of the year.
Davey starred in her final game of 2018. (Photo: AFL Media)
SARAH HOSKING: ROUND 2 v GWS
Stats: 6 kicks, 6 handballs, 16 tackles, 5 contested possessions
When the skipper goes down the vice-captain needs to stand up, and Hosking showed that she was more than capable with a gutsy performance against the Giants.
When GWS star Alicia Eva threatened to break the game open early, Hosking went to her and barely left her side for the rest of the game, minimising her impact and swinging the momentum Carlton’s way.
Hosking’s 16 tackles were a then-AFLW record, and her pressure forced the Giants into countless turnovers in the wet.
Her ability to lock down the opposition while winning the ball herself was a mainstay in her play this season, and this performance exemplified that.
MADDISON GAY: ROUND 3 v BRISBANE
Stats: 10 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 clearances, 7 contested possessions, 1 goal
One of the shining lights for the Game Changers this season, Maddison Gay was a big reason they were able to stay in the game early against Brisbane.
The first-year Blue spent most of the clash lined up against a formidable Lions midfield but was arguably the most influential player in the centre of the ground.
Her six clearances were a game-high, and her goal came at a time when the Lions were threatening to run away with the contest.
The netball convert had an outstanding debut season, and her performance against Brisbane is the sort Carlton fans can look forward to seeing for years to come.
TAYLA HARRIS: ROUND 7 v FREMANTLE
Stats: 10 kicks, 5 handballs, 3 marks, 10 contested possessions, 2 goals
Despite her side being out of finals contention, Harris was relentless in Carlton’s last game of the season and kept the Blues in the contest.
Her two goals were a season-high haul, and while she was unable to mark the ball as often as usual she worked hard to win possession at ground level.
Her 10 contested possessions, more than any other Carlton player, barely scratch the surface of her pressure and hunger for the ball.
In a season marked by adversity for the Blues, Harris never stopped working throughout, and her performance against the Dockers was an embodiment of that commitment and determination.
