CARLTON was resolute in putting last week’s disappointment behind them, cruising to a record-breaking win over Gold Coast on Friday night.
After falling at the final hurdle against Fremantle, the Blues were at their blistering best after quarter time, posting their highest-ever score and winning margin at Metricon Stadium.
With the win giving the Game Changers a fighting chance of a finals berth, it was exactly the result - and performance - that Daniel Harford’s side needed.
Speaking post-match, the Senior Coach said that the team was intent on moving on from the thriller at Ikon Park five days prior.
“On the back of last week, we got through last week because we had to, and we had five days to get to the Gold Coast and play the Suns. It’s never easy,” Harford said.
“Our girls don’t play a lot of interstate night games, it’s a new experience. We had to get our foot back on the road and make sure we started walking again.
“You always enjoy the days when your teams play really well and outside of perhaps the first quarter of footy, which wasn’t overly fantastic I must admit, we really found our groove.”
After conceding the first three goals of the game (in a slow start which Harford plainly described as “really annoying”), the Game Changes piled on 13 of the next 14 goals to emerge with a 60-point win.
On the back of some forward dominance by Darcy Vescio, Carlton’s score of 87 and winning margin of 60 comfortably eclipsed the previous records set in 2019 (65 v GWS, 36-point win over Fremantle).
Harford said a key message was embracing the fun of football, which was clearly on show last night.
“We started to enjoy playing footy again, which is what we’ve tried to instil in the girls all the way through,” he said.
“It’s a great game to play and we’re very lucky to play it, we’re very privileged to play it, so let’s find the joy in it.
“When things are going your way, like it certainly was in the back half, it was nice to see them play the way they did.”
Attention now turns to the remaining games over the AFLW weekend, with the Blues in a precarious position of needing other results to go their way.
While last night’s win was handy in terms of a percentage boost, Harford said he wouldn’t be drawn into the possibilities.
“There’s a lot to unfold over the weekend. It’s helpful should it get to that point, but we’ve put ourselves in a position where we’ve got no real control over what happens,” he said.
“We’ll manage what’s in front of us. It’s as cliche as it gets, but there’s no point worrying about what happens outside.
“We’ve got to focus on getting better every week and if that means there’s a finals appearance, there’s a finals appearance. If there’s not, we need to get better to make sure there is. They’re the things we’re worrying about.”
