THE VFLW Blues found themselves on the wrong side of a fast start at Arden Street on Sunday.
High spirited after a strong showing against Port Melbourne the week prior, Carlton was overrun a rollicking North Melbourne in its Round 8 clash.
Speaking to Carlton Media post match, AFLW-listed Game Changer Serena Gibbs spoke of the team’s building effort despite starting on the back foot.
“I thought it was a quarter-by-quarter effort,” Gibbs said.
“To come back from a four-goal deficit at quarter time is difficult, but the way the girls improved each quarter is important and it shows the growth and development of our side.”
Unable to shrug the Kangaroos' defensive pressure to move the ball forward, it was Carlton’s inability to run and carry that hindered them, according to Gibbs.
Couple of ?? for your #VFLWBlues training gallery. ??
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) April 28, 2021
“We put a lot of pressure on our backs as they kept getting some nice quick repeat rebound 50s against us,” she said.
“Going forward we’d like to have some space and allow some flow in our game to open up the side.”
Reflecting on her performance this season, the forward was pleased with her progress so far in 2021.
After debuting at AFLW level in Round 5 of Carlton's 2021 campaign, Gibbs went on to play another two games at the top level before joining the VFLW Blues in Round 4.
Gibbs hopes that with more game exposure she will be able to cement herself as a key competitor in Carlton’s AFLW forward line.
“I want to be a consistent player at the AFLW level, and VFLW is the perfect opportunity to work for it,” she said.
“To have an opportunity in the VFLW week-in, week-out is important, as well as learning as much as I can from all the coaches and staff."
