THE VFLW Blues have won their final match of the 2021 Rebel VFLW season, stunning the Williamstown Seagulls at Downer Oval.
Carlton dazzled the beachside crowd in pristine conditions on Sunday afternoon, scoring 6.7 to close out the home-and-away season.
Despite leaving Williamstown with the four premiership points, the Blues find themselves sitting in eighth position on the VFLW ladder after 14 games.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown:
Quarter 1:
It was a tight contest early with Ally Bild taking repeat intercept marks deep in Carlton’s defensive 50 to interrupt Williamstown’s scoring efforts. The first goal of the match came from a massive play starting with Jennifer Lew, who showed patience and composure in holding the ball up on the wing before disposing of it to Esther Honybun. Taking the ball into space downfield, Honybun then chipped the Sherrin to Stephanie Lawrence for a shot at goal. The Seagulls responded to break with a goal of their own as Jorja Borg was penalised for a high tackle. With quarter time looming, Olivia Madden snapped up one last goal to give Carlton the lead at the first break.
Quarter 2:
Lew kicked off the second quarter with a quick goal from straight in front resulting from a superb inside 50 kick-in from Amelia Klingbeil. Attempting back-to-back goals, Lew went at the goals again but missed to the side for a minor score. Friendly fire occurred between teammates with Teresa Zampaglione coming off second best. After leaving the field to be assessed by the trainers, Zampaglione later returned to the game in the same quarter. Madden booted her second goal to give the Blues some breathing room at halftime.
The Blues put themselves in the best possible position with one-half of footy left to play. ?? They lead by three goals.
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) June 27, 2021
HT WILL 8| CARL 26 pic.twitter.com/xvkSPxRM8E
Quarter 3:
Throwing herself into everything, Lew was run down in front of goals, the ball tumbling over the line for a point. Another desperate attempt at goal, Bry Gurr tried to manoeuvre a cheeky toe-poke but it missed its target. Time was stopped as an injured Williamstown player was taken from the ground. Charlotte Hammans let loose with a long kick to record her first goal before Lawrence notched her second, extending Carlton’s lead heading into the final change.
Quarter 4:
In the last 20 minutes of the Blues' 2021 season, only a point could be managed from the Blues. Despite some scrappy passages of play causing a few scoring opportunities, all players and staff walked off the field with smiles on their faces, pleased with finishing on a high note.
“It’s been really good for me personally, i’ve been able to build on my confidence."
— Carlton Women's (@carltonfc_w) June 23, 2021
Newly re-signed Blue Paige Trudgeon chats about her development at VFLW level. ??
Luke’s best on field:
“We went with our vice-captain, Jen Lew,” O’Shannessy said.
“She’s had a really strong couple of weeks playing as a forward which is not where she played earlier in the year, she was half-back with a little bit of mid time.
“She came out and kicked a couple today and kicked a couple last week, she’s just a really combative player.”
Match summary
Carlton 2.1 2.1 2.3 0.2 (43)
Williamstown 1.0 0.4 1.0 0.0 (16)
GOALS
Lawrence 2, Madden 2, Lew, Hammans
BEST
Lew, Peterson, Borg, Klingbeil, Madden, Chaplin
