Carlton win by eight points
The Blues bank the first four points of the AFLW season, in a match that was a scrappy arm-wrestle sort of affair. They led at every chance, but never by more than a goal and a bit. That proved to be a substantial enough margin though, as Collingwood struggled to find a way through Carlton’s defence. It was a lack of polish in disposal that meant the Pies couldn’t put together chains of possession that were smooth enough. An unconvincing display from the Maggies, but Carlton did have some of that polish when required, and defended staunchly while producing some lovely bits of play amongst the grind.
Vescio had a couple of moments, Hope was very quiet, but it’s no surprise that each team’s disposal count was led by defensive marshals, Molloy for Collingwood and Davey for Carlton. Steph Chiocci was probably Collingwood’s brightest light, while Amelia Barden battled hard, and for Carlton we saw a lively night from Georgia Gee and Jess Hosking, with influential interventions from Tayla Harris.
And with the champagne thoroughly smashed on the prow, we declare the AFLW season 2018 underway! God bless all who sail with her.
Goodnight.
4th quarter, 0:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.2.14 Edwards with a shot after a chain of handballs, but smothered with a minute left. That was Collingwood’s last chance, you’d think. A few more scrambles in front of goal, and the clock runs down...
4th quarter, 2:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.2.14 Molloy pushing forward late, gathers in the pocket but sprays her shot on the run. Not her best possession, but it was her 19th for the night, the most on ground.
4th quarter, 4:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.2.14 Chloe Molloy has been magnificent for the Pies tonight, under pressure in the forward line. She keeps her cool again, twisting and turning to evade the lightly-framed Georgia Gee. Gets Collingwood back up the ground again. Desperate need of a goal. No way through.
4th quarter, 6:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.2.14 Just a matter of who’s got the fitness now, to keep running and make space. Darcy Vescio does, tracking all the way back to half back to create an option and get her team out of trouble. Then her very presence around the pack a minute later draws a free kick for holding. Those two possessions help Carlton get back down into their forward line. Collingwood can’t get clear.
4th quarter, 9:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.2.14 Back and forth it goes, forward 50 to forward 50, with Grant finding space for Collingwood, then Moody challenging and winning it back for Carlton. Barden should have given up a shot on goal for holding the ball, but the Carlton gang-tackle is high. Down the other end, the Pies should be through to an open goal, twice, but fumbles at the key moments cost them. Kuys eventually gets on the end of a mark after running hard into the hole at full forward, but her set shot is up-and-under, and misses left.
4th quarter, 13:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.1.13 Barden attacks the centre bounce with ferocity, but Breann Moody responds with a couple of crunching tackles. Imposing herself on the contest after each ruck tap. Three ball-ups to start the quarter. Hosking gets loose for Carlton, bangs forward, then it comes back and Sarah D’Arcy nearly takes a pack mark. The ball is buried again. Tough start.
Sarah D’Arcy got reported.
.@collingwoodfcw's Sarah D'Arcy has been reported for this incident. #AFLW #AFLWBluesPies pic.twitter.com/13IaQw6nhO
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 2, 2018
3rd quarter, 0:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.1.13 Desperation from Jaimee Lambert, who attacks the contest at Collingwood’s 50 after the Pies put great pressure on the kick-in. Got the ball, chipped a pass to Sarah D’Arcy, but her set shot misses from about 40. She should have another chance a moment later, but a free kick going her way is reversed after she loses patience and kicks out at her opponent after being smashed to ground. Not a great look, though I think D’Arcy was really just trying to get a Carlton body off her and pushed out with her legs. The chance goes, and after a last late scramble in front of goal, the Blues get to three-quarter time without conceding.
3rd quarter, 4:00 left: Carlton 3.4.22 v Collingwood 2.1.13 Katie Loynes tackling hard at half back, but the Pies send it back inside 50 looking for Hope. She fingertips it in the left pocket but can’t hang on. A scramble for this ball outside 50, a couple of ball-ups. Hosking tries to run away from the contest for Carlton but is dragged down. Tayla Harris gets on the end of the kick up the wing, The ball comes inside 50, where Gee runs down Emma Grant of the Pies, picks up the loose ball, but her kick is touched on its way to goal. Carlton doing it in points.
3rd quarter, 8:00 left: Carlton 3.3.21 v Collingwood 2.1.13 Livingstone back on the field for Collingwood, so good news that her shoulder injury wasn’t too bad. She’s hassled out of possession in the centre of the ground at this stage. Lauren Brazzale runs onto the ball at half forward, pumps it long towards goal, Vescio knocks it clear, Sophie Li goes off the ground but hits the post.
3rd quarter, 10:50 left: Carlton 3.2.20 v Collingwood 2.1.13 The speed of Carlton’s forward line is the hallmark of this third quarter. Georgia Gee toepoking forward, beating a couple of pursuers, getting the ball inside 50. Then Darcy Vescio running down Iilish Ross for a holding the ball decision near the 50. Goes inboard, Harris marks in front, but tugs the set shot wide for a point.
How about that strength from @darcyvee? She's earned our Special K Play of the Day. #AFLW #staystrong #AFLWBluesPies @SpecialKAus pic.twitter.com/DTDflTqQ9M
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 2, 2018
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2nd quarter, 0:00 left: Carlton 3.1.19 v Collingwood 2.1.13 A ding-dong battled on Collingwood’s right forward flank, as two sets of players refused to give in - Barden busting through tackles again, Davey keeping composure, a chain of possessions for the Blues just trying to find safety while the Pies hassled them relentlessly. Great football with 90 seconds left to half time. The ball eventually crosses over to the left flank, goes back to centre wing, and then Chloe Molly for the Pies sends a raking pass forward that ands right on the chest of Christina Bernardi. She would have to cover 50 metres after the siren though, and her kick is smothered as she searches for the extra distance. The gap remains one goal at the long break.
2nd quarter, 4:30 left: Carlton 3.1.19 v Collingwood 2.1.13 Amelia Barden finally gets the goal for Collingwood! Some scrambling, some fumbling, then the handpass comes through to Barden in traffic inside 50, and she slams the ball on the boot to send a low tumbling punt just inside the right-hand post.
2nd quarter, 5:45 left: Carlton 3.1.19 v Collingwood 1.1.7 Steph Chiocci breaks free for Collingwood, streams forward, but pushes her kick from the right forward flank across the face. One point.
2nd quarter, 8:30 left: Carlton 3.1.19 v Collingwood 1.0.6 They’re just mired in their defensive 50, the Magpies. Scrambling the back pocket with Vescio circling again. Finally they break free, get to half forward, Garner and McIntosh combining, but eventually Bri Davey takes a relieving defensive mark for Carlton.
2nd quarter, 13:00 left: Carlton 3.1.19 v Collingwood 1.0.6 What a grab! Alison Downie, former basketballer, uses all of her 180 centimetre frame to take a strong grab in the goalsquare, after the pass came in from the boundary line following a last-touch free kick for out of bounds. Slots the goal. Carlton with the first blow in this quarter, and the Pies must find a way back fast.
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Carlton set up their structure and it started to hold sway after Collingwood’s early flurry.
Adelaide Strikers are 1 for 65 in the 9th over in the BBL semi-final, if you’re wondering.
1st quarter, 0:00 left: Carlton 2.1.13 v Collingwood 1.0.6 Brilliant offensive tackle! Maddison Gay, a former star netballer, relishes the chance to get involved in a contact sport. Smashes down a tackle in front of goal, but hits the post from about 35 out after winning the free for holding the ball. A minute later Georgia Gee has a chance on the run from the pocket, but is smothered, and Sophie Li has a post-siren shot from the 50 after the Pies are pinged for a throw. That’s quarter time.
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1st quarter, 3:30 left: Carlton 2.0.12 v Collingwood 1.0.6 Back it comes, and Katie Loynes gets a free after being landed on flush in the middle of her back. Her kick from deep in the pocket is skewed, but Tayla Harris runs across the face of goal with the flight and pulls down a sensational mark! Under pressure, but hauled it in, goes back, and slots the tight-angle goal. Her first for the Blues, and Carlton lead!
1st quarter, 4:30 left: Carlton 1.0.6 v Collingwood 1.0.6 Harris with a couple of intercepts for Carlton across half-back, but the second time she tries to go forward the kick rolls out in the pocket. So we see the yee-haw signal from the umpire that indicates it’s a turnover. The ball heads to the far pocket where it’s buried under a pack. Eventually the free goes to Sarah Hosking from Carlton for a hold. Pumps it to the goalsquare but Collingwood stand firm to clear.
1st quarter, 7:30 left: Carlton 1.0.6 v Collingwood 1.0.6 Pressure inside Carlton’s 50, with Vescio snapping around the loose ball, but Collingwood find a way out through Mo Hope...
1st quarter, 9:30 left: Carlton 1.0.6 v Collingwood 1.0.6 And Kate Shierlaw slots it! Drew the free for some contact off the play in the forward pocket, went back and nailed the set shot. Livingstone is down the race, and was tagging Tayla Harris before going off.
Plenty of feeling in this already, some pushing and shoving as the ball goes over the boundary, and a couple of big hits in the contest for the ball. Stacey Livingstone has popped her shoulder out, by the looks, and runs from the field as Tayla Harris waits with the ball. Had it wrenched in a marking contest. But as the ball goes inside 50 there’s a free kick for Carlton...
1st quarter, 13:30 left: Carlton 0.0.0 v Collingwood 1.0.6 Twice in a row! Jasmine Garner kicked the first ever AFLW goal last year, and she kicks the first of the season this year. Found safely in the forward pocket, and slots it from 30 out.
History repeating itself! Well done @GarnerJasmine 🙌 #AFLWBluesPies #AFLW pic.twitter.com/CVjQ5FOx52
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 2, 2018
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Team line-ups
Blues
B: Hosking 11, Hardiman 31, Brazzale 12
HB: Pound 6, Downie 30, Davey 1
C: Audley 26
HF: Harris 22, Harrington 9, Stevens 21
F: Gay 8, Vescio 3, Li 35
Foll: Moody 16, Hosking 10, Loynes 2
Int: Shierlaw 25, Arnell 13, Gee 19, Plane 32, Gillespie-Jones 5
Magpies
B: Casey 22, Livingstone 12, McIntosh 20
HB: Chiocci 17, Edwards 1, Grant 5
C: Hope 23
HF: Bonnici 8, D’Arcy 4, Molloy 2
F: Bernardi 6, Garner 43, Schleicher 18
Foll: King 60, Lambert 13, Barden 38
Int: Ross 21, Hynes 11, Dargan 46, Kuys 9, White 33
Here we go! Brianna Davey leads the Carlton Blues out onto the ground. In late golden sunlight, they do their laps and the club song is played, the banner is torn, and the crowd is cheering. The stands are pretty full already, and there are live sites outside the ground with big screens for people to watch.
Rule changes for this season: five players on the bench, and the last player to dispose of a ball before it goes out of bounds is penalised, unless it hits another player on the way without them taking possession. Sixteen players on the field, and two minutes of stoppage time per quarter.
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Dual-sporter Jess Duffin, who played cricket for the Melbourne Renegades this WBBL season, is going to miss with an adductor injury. I assume an adductor is a snake that can use the minus symbol as well as the plus.
Your club.
— Collingwood AFLW (@CollingwoodFCW) February 2, 2018
Our club.
One club.
Tonight + #FOREVER pic.twitter.com/en1taj6ZDV
Talk to me
Get involved with the blog, as always. Send me a Twitter missive via @GeoffLemonSport, or email geoff.lemon@theguardian.com. Let’s chattttttt.
All the pre-game chat is underway...
The head of @aflwomens @NicLiv is with us on @abcgrandstand now pic.twitter.com/FxdN2xKvGh
— Alister Nicholson (@AlisterNicho) February 2, 2018
Hello, friends and friands. Here we are, and we’re primed. We’re brimming. We’re frothed to the gills with excitment. The second season of the AFL Women’s competition is about to get underway, after such a joyful breakout success the first time around, and a lot anticipation in the build-up to this moment.
The old firms, the old rivalry, in a new incarnation: Collingwood v Carlton from Princes Park, on a beautiful Melbourne summer night. Could not be better.
Geoff will be here shortly. But there’s still time to have a read of this lovely piece of writing from Kirby Fenwick:
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