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| Venue: | RSEA Park, Moorabbin VIC. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Friday 7th October, 2022 (6.10 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 27 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 1,234 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | B. Moody 2.0, J. Dal Pos 1.0, K. Peterson 1.0, G. Pound 1.0, K. Skepper 1.0, A. McKay 0.1, E. O' Dea 0.1, A. Velardo 0.1, Rushed 0.5. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Elise O'Dea received a one match suspension for striking Hannah Priest (St K) in the first quarter. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Joshua Ball, Matthew Young, Courtney Gibson. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 10th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blues blitz Saints
It was a resounding return to winning form for the Game Changers in Round 7. - By Rose Zaruck.Carlton has returned to winning form with a comprehensive victory over St Kilda. It was the Blues’ game from the get go, being able to hold the Saints goalless in the three quarters while kicking six majors of their own in the 27-point victory. Carlton’s ball movement was clean and precise, hitting targets in all areas of the ground and managing to lock the ball in their forward half. Not for the first time this season, the Blues sprung some positional surprises, with Darcy Vescio and the returning Brooke Walker permanently stationed in defence. Keeley Skepper and Kerryn Peterson were the goalkickers in the first quarter, with Skepper also contributing three inside 50's in the first half after an opening goal which set the tone for the Game Changers.
Breann Moody owned the second quarter, recording two goals, two contested marks and seven hitouts, making it difficult for St Kilda to generate any momentum as Carlton dominated forward territory (16-9 inside 50's). Down the other end of the ground, Vescio managed five intercepts while Jess Dal Pos contributed four tackles in the first half, as the Blues' marking game kept them in control with 27 marks in the opening two quarters (six contested). A stunning snap from the left boot of Jess Dal Pos had Blues fans on their feet, while Gab Pound - who lined up in attack - contributing goal number six (fittingly) to the tally.
The Saints fought back in the second half, managing to pin the ball in their 50 for the majority of the last term, but by that stage, the game was well and truly in Carlton's favour. Mimi Hill and Abbie McKay both finished with 26 disposals after dominant midfield performances, while Breann Moody and Jess Good well and truly won the ruck battle, recording 22 and 21 hitouts respectively. The outstanding Vescio finished the game with 10 intercepts, proving to be a handy inclusion to the half-back line, while McEvoy and Walker both contributed six. The game was ultimately won with Carlton’s pressure game, causing more turnovers for St Kilda, as well as dominating contested marks (9-0), tackles inside 50 (25-7) and and contested possessions (122-92).
Best: B. Moody, D. Vescio, A. McKay, M. Hill, L. McEvoy, K. Skepper, K. Peterson.
Blues blow Saints away to creep back into finals contention - Gemma Bastiani
Breann Moody has stamped her All-Australian credentials as Carlton made short work of St Kilda, with intermittent rain no obstacle in the 27-point win. The Blues took charge from the first bounce, ultimately dismissing the Saints 6.8 (44) to the Saints' 2.5 (17) in the first match of round seven. St Kilda toiled away but simply could not break through Carlton's defensive setup, which featured star goalkicker Darcy Vescio, which starved the Saints' forwards of opportunity. It was an arm wrestle around the contest as St Kilda duo Rosie Dillon (19 disposals, 252 metres gained) and Olivia Vesely (19 disposals, eight tackles) went head-to-head with the Blues' dynamic duo of Mimi Hill (26 disposals, eight clearances) and Abbie McKay (26 disposals, six score involvements), but it was the latter's ability to transition into space on the outside that resulted in their side's ascendency.
They were aided by star ruck Breann Moody who bullied St Kilda's injury-hit ruck division, which also lost Simone Nalder due to concussion in the opening quarter. Moody finished the game with two goals, 22 hitouts and three clearances as she dominated both the air and the ground. The Blues controlled territory for much of the game, just struggling to convert due to repeated goal-saving touches from Bec Ott on the last line of defence. But it was some quick thinking from veteran Jess Dal Pos that eventually saw the visitors break through, gathering the ball deep in the forward pocket and turning to snap, slotting a goal of the year contender late in the third quarter. St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo shifted the magnets in the final quarter to kickstart his side, throwing Nicola Stevens behind the ball and captain Hannah Priest onto the wing which injected some run and attack, resulting in two goals to the clever Jess Matin, but it was unfortunately too little too late for the home side. Kerryn Peterson set the standard for Carlton early, getting involved in everything in her new position on the wing, finishing the game with 16 disposals and seven tackles, while Lucy McEvoy was solid as a rock coming out of defence with 17 disposals and six intercepts. For the Saints, Molly McDonald was tireless on the wing with 15 disposals and five tackles. With this loss, finals are now just one step too far for the Saints, while Carlton moves to ninth on the ladder after a slow start to the season.
Darcy down back
In round five, Carlton coach Daniel Harford threw reliable defender Gab Pound up forward to provide some experience ahead of the ball. This week it was Darcy Vescio playing as a small defender and just oozing class. Often matched up on Jess Matin, Vescio was clean at ground level, gathering the ball with one hand and using their run to set up teammates higher up the field. Vescio ended the game with 15 disposal, 10 intercepts and potentially a new starting position.
The tall battle
St Kilda was already thin on tall stocks with Erin McKinnon out, which was less than ideal when coming up against one of the best rucks in the competition in Breann Moody, so when Simone Nalder copped a concussion during the first quarter things got even tougher for the Saints. With Nalder out of action, defender Lucy Burke and the competition's equal-leading goalkicker Kate Shierlaw had to share ruck duties which put pressure on St Kilda's structure in front of the ball.
Breann Moody has one hand on her second All-Australian selection
On Friday evening against the Saints, Breann Moody put up yet another best-on-ground performance to assert her dominance as the best ruck in the competition. Against a thin St Kilda ruck division, which was already without Erin McKinnon and lost back-up ruck Simone Nalder in the opening quarter, Moody saw an opportunity and took it. Finishing the game with two goals, 22 hitouts and three strong contested marks to add to an already impressive season, Moody is forcing All-Australian selectors to take notice.
What's next?
Carlton will open the round hosting Richmond at Ikon Park on Friday evening, while St Kilda will travel to Ballarat to take on the Western Bulldogs, who are trying to keep a hold of their top eight spot on Sunday afternoon.
Best: B. Moody, K. Peterson, D. Vescio, L. McEvoy.
!!!!The Run Home
12 points (two wins, three losses, two draws), 77.9 per cent.
Despite only having two wins, its back-to-back draws still has Carlton in with a sniff of finals. Vitally, the Blues’ fate lies in their own hands, facing off against both Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs who are also vying for eighth place. Should it claim victory in both games, Carlton will likely jump above the pair, although gaining some vital percentage in those wins will also be important.
The run home
RD8: Richmond at Ikon Park
RD9: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
RD10: Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park
Team
| B: | 26 Paige Trudgeon | 8 Vaomua Laloifi | |
| HB: | 6 Gabriella Pound | 3 Darcy Vescio | 7 Brooke Walker |
| C: | 23 Daisy Walker | 9 Kerryn Peterson (c) | 24 Brooke Vickers |
| HF: | 46 Elise O'Dea | 34 Taylor Ortlepp | 1 Amelia Velardo |
| F: | 10 Mimi Hill | 15 Jess Good | |
| Ruck: | 16 Breann Moody | 13 Lucy McEvoy | 5 Abbie McKay |
| Interchange: | 2 Jess Dal Pos | 33 Serena Gibbs | 32 Natalie Plane |
| 25 Keeley Sherar | 4 Keeley Skepper | ||
| Coach: | Daniel Harford | ||
| Emg: | 35 Poppy Schaap | 17 Charlotte Hammans | 11 Annie Lee |
In: Brooke Walker, Amelia Velardo
Out: Annie Less (illness), Lily Goss (injured)
Late Change: Annie Lee (illness) replaced in the selected side by Nat Plane.
AFLW Coaches Votes
10 - Breann Moody (CARL)7 - Abbie McKay (CARL)
5 - Mimi Hill (CARL)
4 - Lucy McEvoy (CARL)
2 - Kerryn Peterson (CARL)
2 - Darcy Vescio (CARL)
AFLW Team of the Week
Defenders: Lucy McEvoyMidfielders: Breann Moody
Interchange: Abbie McKay