GAB Pound is all too familiar with running out on onto Ikon Park as she celebrated her 25th game on Saturday against Collingwood.

She was joined by Alison Downie, Sarah Hosking and Darcy Vescio as they became the only players at the Club to play all AFLW games over the Club's short history.

Senior Coach Daniel Harford acknowledged the girls in his pre-game address ahead of the Round 2 clash.

“It was pretty amazing; it was a really nice touch when he said that. It is pretty cool, three and a half years at the club is a long time and I’m really happy to share that with three other teammates. It’s pretty cool,” said Pound.

Unfortunately, the Game Changers could not get over the line during the milestone match as Collingwood showed they had a point to prove in a display of brutal physicality.

“Every year they keep getting better and better and their pressure was really good today, the best we’ve seen, credit to them they had a good game plan. For four quarters they were able to control the game,” she said.

“It’s a big rivalry and we were expecting it. It’s always a hard physical contest with them, we knew they were going to come out hard but we just didn’t come out harder.

“They had a really good start and jumped us early, we were a bit frazzled. We did come back at times but we couldn’t really get it over.”

While the Magpies held control for majority of the game, the Blues maintained their fighting efforts as Senior Coach Daniel Harford rallied the team to contest each opportunity.

“His message at half-time was pretty much that they are killing us at a lot of uncontested marks, clearances and a few other stats,” she said.

“We were really trying to nullify that, go man on man and bring up the pressure more because it wasn’t quite there.”

Pound believes the disappointment of Saturday’s game will drive the team to prepare and perform strongly ahead of next week’s Pride game against the Western Bulldogs.

“I don’t think [Saturday’s game] was a true reflection of how we play,” she said following Saturday’s game against Collingwood

“We were on the back of our heels for a lot of it and it was disappointing. We did some good things but we weren’t really trusting ourselves, changing lanes but when that did happen we did score.

“So I think coming into this week against the Dogs, we will really be physical at the contest, they are a pretty quick team but if we have physical pressure from the get go then I think everything else will come together.

“We do have that confidence within ourselves and in each other to get the job done.”

Using her 25 games of experience, Pound has become an instrumental part of Carlton’s backline as she continues to drive herself and her teammates.

Leading by example on the field, Pound has relished working alongside fellow defender and Carlton co-captain Kerryn Harrington in the backline, as the two cement themselves as the pillars of team’s strong defensive group.

“I think as a defender, defending first, get that consistency up and also a bit of leadership as well,” she said

“Make sure that I’m talking to the girls making sure they’re nice and calm, we know our game plan.

“We’ve always been a solid backline crew for a few years and just continuing that would be the goal.”