The AFLW season is just around the corner and, after a stellar campaign last year, the Blues will be looking to go one better in 2020.

With seven new recruits joining the team and many familiar faces returning once more, here’s a closer look at some of our players to watch.

The New Blue:

It would be hard to look past Carlton’s highly touted second pick from the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s draft. At just 18-years of age, the skilful all-rounder has had a junior career which speaks for itself including captaining the Geelong Falcons and being named as an All Australian on three different occasions, in three different positions.

McEvoy’s versatility will be of huge benefit to the Blues, able to play across the forward line, backline and in the midfield. With a strong pre-season behind her, Blues’ fans should expect to see McEvoy hit the field early on in the season.

“Lucy has been one of the very best junior footballers in the country for a long time: we can’t wait for her to show our supporters why we’re so excited to have her representing our football club,” said General Manager of Women's Football Ash Brown.

Oh captain(s), my captain(s):

For the first time in the team’s short history, there will be two captains sharing the responsibility for the 2020 AFLW season.

Katie Loynes and Kerryn Harrington were fittingly voted in by their peers as part of a new look leadership group which also features Sarah Hosking, Alison Downie and Nicola Stevens.

The team could arguably have not chosen a better duo to co-captain the team, with their renown on-field physicality, dedication and class features of both Loynes’ and Harrington’s games that will inspire the rest of the team.

As one of the original Game Changers, Loynes has established herself as one of the hardest workers in the team. The 2018 Best and Fairest (shared with Breann Moody) and the 2019 vice-captain spoke proudly of receiving the honour.

“This Club has been my home since day one – it’s amazing to think back to my first training session in 2016 and the journey that has led me to this moment,” Loynes said

“This opportunity is incredible and doing this alongside my great friend ‘Kez’ makes it even more special.”

Harrington also has an impressive CV with the Blues. After switching from basketball to join the Blues in the 2018 season, the dominant defender ranked in the top five for intercept possessions in the competition and earned All-Australian honours in 2019.

“I have been a Carlton supporter all my life and to now captain this club is just surreal. I’m still getting my head around the prestigious honour of being a captain of the Carlton Football Club,” Harrington said.

Keep an eye on:

It’s early days in the pre-season, but Coach Daniel Harford has highlighted Lauren Brazzale as his player to watch in 2020.

The inaugural Blue who was taken with pick No.62 by the Blues in 2016, continued to build her consistency in 2019 – missing only one game during the game changing season.

With more time spent in the midfield, Brazzale was able to use her breakaway speed to provide a vital link for the Blues as they transitioned between defence and attack. The 26-year old averaged 10.4 disposals as she cemented herself as one of the Blues’ best.

While Brazzale’s VFLW campaign was interrupted, Harford is still confident that the Blue will continue to improve in 2020.

“I think we’ll see a fair bit from Lauren Brazzale in 2020. She had an interrupted VFLW season but has worked her backside off over the last four months and got herself in some really good nick.”