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| Venue: | Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Friday 21st October, 2022 (7.30 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 27 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 683 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | P. Schaap 1.1, V. Laloifu 1.0, A. McKay 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | Samuel Ferguson, Cameron Manthey, Sam Whetton. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ladder: | 12th. | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Blues fall up north
A summary of the Round 9 AFLW action. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.A six-goal second half from Gold Coast has seen Carlton fall by 27 points at Metricon Stadium. Despite starting the night the better side, a strong final two quarters from the Suns saw the hosts come away with a 6.6 (42) to 2.3 (15) win. It was a night of firsts in front of goal from a Carlton perspective, with Poppy Schaap and Mua Laloifi registering their first goals in football. However, despite a solid opening two terms, it wasn’t to be for the Game Changers on a wet night up north. The backbone of Carlton’s first half was its defensive solidity, led by the outstanding Lucy McEvoy: this allowed the Blues to dominate the early possession and territory, despite not earning full reward on the scoreboard. It was a returning Blue who registered her first career goal that broke the goal drought at Metricon Stadium. Following a contested one-on-one win by Breann Moody, Schaap popped up to kick her first goal in Navy Blue in her second senior game.
Alongside McEvoy, Jess Good was a presence behind the ball in the first half, embracing a new role occupying a key defensive post to thwart a number of Gold Coast forward forays as the host went goalless in the opening two quarters. It was a game of differing styles on a slippery night at Metricon Stadium following a pre-match shower, with the Suns holding the upper hand in contested possessions (+19) at half time while the Blues dominated the ball on the outside in that period (+20 uncontested possessions, +16 marks). A Kalinda Howarth goal in the opening seconds of the third term saw the Suns hit the scoreboard, and a further quick-fire double all of a sudden had the Blues on the back foot and negotiating a game-high 13-point deficit at the final change. While the Blues brought the heat with 59 tackles for the game, the Suns’ ferocity at the contest was the difference in the second half, as a Tara Bohanna goal put the result beyond doubt. A heart-warming highlight from a Carlton perspective came inside the final five minutes, with club favourite Laloifi registering her first senior goal in her 34th game. McEvoy produced another solid showing behind the ball, ending the night with a game-high 10 intercepts, while Keeley Skepper continued a promising first campaign in Navy Blue with 11 disposals as a high half forward.
Best: L. McEvoy, M. Hill, K. Skepper, J. Good
Sun sets on Blues' finals hopes as Gold Coast's season stays alive - Michael Whiting.
Gold Coast has kept its finals hopes alive, overcoming a sluggish start to storm past Carlton by 27 points at a wet Metricon Stadium on Friday night. The 6.6 (42) to 2.3 (15) victory moves the Suns to 20 premiership points, level with eighth-placed Western Bulldogs, but trailing on percentage. The loss means finals are now out of reach for 11th-placed Carlton. With its season on the line Gold Coast trailed by six points at half-time but turned up the heat after the main break, kicking three unanswered goals in a dominant third quarter to take control of the contest. Kalinda Howarth was magnificent, kicking a goal just 25 seconds into the third, having a hand in another for Kaylee Kimber and easily looking the most dangerous forward in the tough conditions. When captain Tara Bohanna kicked a goal early in the last quarter after earning a free kick, the match was over. The Suns got on top around the contest the longer the night went, with Lauren Bella winning her dual against a hobbled Bree Moody (corked thigh), while Charlie Rowbottom (26 disposals, five clearances, six tackles) and Alison Drennan (24 disposals) also had major impacts. Ellie Hampson was also instrumental in the win, as was the run of Claudia Whitfort. Carlton dominated the match early but couldn't capitalise on its field position. Mimi Hill (23), Lucy McEvoy (24) and Vaomua Laloifi – who kicked her first career goal when swung forward in the dying stages – were the Blues' best.
The hero
Look no further than Kalinda Howarth. The dynamic Suns utility has often been used in defence this season, but coach Cameron Joyce decided tonight was the night 'Kindy' would be thrown forward and she proved the match-winner. Howarth was absolutely magnificent, playing one of her best games for the Suns in amassing 18 disposals, kicking a goal and adding an assist. Her clean hands and exquisite kicking shone in the tricky conditions.
The first blow
It took a while, but it was worth the wait. Ten minutes into the second quarter and in just her second career game, 19-year-old Poppy Schaap kicked the game's first goal after she took a clever mark and was able to convert the set shot from 25m. Schaap was originally a train-on player with Geelong before moving to the Blues prior to last season.
Up next
Gold Coast is still in the running to play finals but will be cheering for Carlton next Friday night when it hosts the Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park at 6.10pm AEDT. The Suns finish their season with a trip to Henson Park next Sunday to play Greater Western Sydney from 5.10pm AEDT.
Best: M. Hill, L. McEvoy, V. Laloifi, K. Peterson, K. Sherar.
Carlton is limping to the finish line
After some promising signs throughout the season, a build-up of injuries has the Blues limping to the end of the season, and even to the final siren in games. Starting strong against Gold Coast, they simply couldn't make it count on the scoreboard and the Suns took full advantage as the Blues petered out. It was a similar story last week against Richmond, and no matter how many positional changes the Blues make in-game, they just haven't been able to play until the final siren.Team
| B: | 26 Paige Trudgeon | 8 Vaomua Laloifi | |
| HB: | 9 Kerryn Peterson (c) | 15 Jess Good | 11 Annie Lee |
| C: | 23 Daisy Walker | 1 Amelia Velardo | 24 Brooke Vickers |
| HF: | 7 Brooke Walker | 34 Taylor Ortlepp | 3 Darcy Vescio |
| F: | 10 Mimi Hill | 13 Lucy McEvoy | |
| Ruck: | 16 Breann Moody | 46 Elise O'Dea | 5 Abbie McKay |
| Interchange: | 2 Jess Dal Pos | 25 Keeley Sherar | 28 Imogen Milford |
| 35 Poppy Schaap | 4 Keeley Skepper | ||
| Coach: | Daniel Harford | ||
| Emg: | 32 Natalie Plane | 33 Serena Gibbs | 17 Charlotte Hammans |
In: Elise O'Dea, Poppy Schaap
Out: Gabriella Pound (managed), Natalie Plane (omitted)
Milestones
First Goal: Poppy Schaap, Vaomua LaloifiAFLW Coaches Votes
10 - Charlie Rowbottom GCFC8 - Kalinda Howarth GCFC
3 - Claudia Whitfort GCFC
3 - Lucy McEvoy CARL
2 - Vivien Saad GCFC
2 - Alison Drennan GCFC
1 - Courtney Jones GCFC
1 - Kerryn Peterson CARL