Carlton 1.2 8 5.4 34 8.5 53 12.5 77 West Coast Eagles 1.0 6 1.0 6 2.2 14 3.6 24
Venue:	Mineral Resources Park, Lathlain Park, WA.
Date:	Sunday 17th September, 2023 (1.05 pm).
Result:	Won by 53 points.
Crowd:	1,208
Goalkickers:	K. Skepper 3.0, D. Vescio 2.1, B. Moody 2.0, M. Austin 2.0, L. Goss 1.1, E. Fitzpatrick 1.0, Jess Dal Pos 1.0, K. Sherar 0.1, J. Good 0.1, Rushed 0.1.
Reports:	Gen Lawson-Tavan had her rough conduct charge upheld by the AFL Tribunal, it was challenged by Carlton which was graded as careless conduct, high impact and high contact. Lawson-Tavan will serve a two-game suspension as a result of the tribunal decision.
Umpires:	Blake Evans, Jordan Fry, Courtney Gibson.
Injuries:	Nil
Ladder:	9th

Game Review

Sensational Skepper guides Blues to impressive win

Carlton have bounced back in emphatic fashion with a strong four-quarter performance on the road against the West Coast Eagles. - By Owen Jones, Carlton Media.

In perfect conditions for football, it was the future stars of the Blues who stood tall and helped guide them team to their second win of the 2023 season. After a hard-fought, contest-heavy first quarter - seeing Keeley Skepper kick the Blues’ only goal with a classy snap around the body - kicking off what would end up being a healthy account of goals for the Blues. Starting off the second term with a narrow two-point lead, the Blues came out of the gates with goals on their mind, as Erone Fitzpatrick repeated her goal-kicking ways of round 2, finishing off a strong lead-mark with a level-headed set-shot goal. Darcy Vescio decided it was time to join the scoreboard dominance, comfortably slotting through their first goal of the day and setting up the quarter nicely. Mia Austin stood tall within the forward 50 all game, paying off with a strong contested mark and conversion in the second quarter, making it three goals in the opening five minutes and putting the Eagles on the back foot.

Jess Dal Pos showed her true leadership with six contested possessions, one of which was a courageous play at the ball resulting in a free-kick in front of goal, giving the Blues’ fourth goal for the quarter and a very handy lead at the main break. The defensive pressure in the second quarter was strong enough to keep West Coast scoreless, thanks to strong efforts across the top of the arc from Harriet Cordner and Gab Pound, shutting down any attempts the Eagles made to get inside their attacking zone. After the break, it was all Carlton once again, with a triple-shot of goals from Skipper, Vescio and a career-first major for Lily Goss, being met with great excitement from her teammates and the raucous West Australian-based Carlton fans. For the first three quarters, the dominant Carlton performance was led by the dynamic ruck duo of Jess Good and Brea Moody, creating play after play around the ground and particularly from the centre.

Amassing 55 hit-outs together (Good with 31 and Moody with 24), the strength and poise in the stoppages helped set up numerous fast-breaks and attacking plays into the forward 50. Away from the ruck contest, Moody stood tall inside the arc, stepping up in the final quarter with two goals of her own, adding to her clinical performance in the centre and furthering the Blues’ lead. With West Coast giving everything they could in the closing stages of the final quarter, it was all Carlton in the end, closing out 53-point victors. In a strong team performance, there were a few individual shining lights, with the young forward in Skepper staking her claim as a future star of the game, giving her all in every time she was near the ball. Collecting 23 disposals, kicking three team-motivating goals and having seven score involvements, Skepper was influential all around the ground. Senior Coach Mathew Buck’s focus on the contest was apparent with with Blues showing confidence and skill when the ball went to ground - winning the contested ball 124 to 98 and in the air - with the Blues holding onto nine contested marks. On the defensive side of the contest, Carlton was strong and aggressive, laying 66 tackles, 12 of them inside 50 and playing an important part in shutting down any attack West Coast had. With confidence high, the Blues fly home from Perth with smiles on their faces and the four points in their pocket.

Best: K. Skepper, M. Hill, B. Moody, A. McKay, D. Vescio, K. Sherar, J. Good, B. Vickers.

Blues fire as West Coast slumps to another heavy defeat

West Coast has suffered its third big loss to start the season as Carlton recorded a much-needed win. - By Nathan Schmook.

Carlton has won its first ever AFLW meeting with West Coast, bouncing back in style to beat the Eagles by 53 points in a slick performance at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday. Fresh off a 10-goal defeat in round two, the Blues brought their A-game to Western Australia and produced a powerful four-goal second quarter to set up the 12.5 (77) to 3.6 (24) win. They built with speed off half-back and a willingness to take the game on, got on top in the midfield battles, and then took advantage of a weight of forward opportunities to kick their highest score since 2021 and second highest ever in eight seasons. Classy teenager Keeley Skepper was superb, providing drive from the back half and pushing high up the ground to finish with 23 disposals and three goals.

Forward/ruck Breann Moody (24 hit-outs and two goals) was dominant in the ruck and then influential in attack, while Abbie McKay and Mimi Hill controlled the stoppages with a combined 10 clearances. In attack, Darcy Vescio (two goals) and Mia Austin (two goals) capitalised on a strong team performance. Carlton took the game away from West Coast in the second quarter, smashing their opponents at the coalface and winning the contested ball (35-18), hit-outs (16-4) and inside 50s (11-3) convincingly. Through some slick ball movement from the likes of Skepper and Brooke Vickers, the Blues got plenty of good scoring looks and kicked 4.2 to 0.0 in their best quarter under coach Matthew Buck. Held to one touch in the first quarter by Belinda Smith, star forward Vescio emerged to play a crucial hand in back-back goals, kicking one and setting up Mia Austin as the Blues built momentum.

The Eagles, meanwhile, were struggling to get their hands on the ball and weren't getting enough reward for the high level of pressure they continued to bring to the contest. When Dal Pos earned a free kick inside 50 and converted her set shot, the margin had blown out to 27 points and it was hard to see the Eagles kicking the score needed to mount a challenge after the main break. They did have periods of ascendency in the second half, particularly through the final term, but were unable to capitalise on periods of momentum on the scoreboard. Captain Emma Swanson (27 disposals and four clearances) did a power of work in the midfield, while Ella Roberts (18 and a goal) contributed to an improved pressure performance.

Slick Blues go end-to-end
The play that showed the Blues meant business came in the opening minute of the second term, with the match well and truly alive. After intercepting a West Coast entry, the Blues launched immediately and Vickers and Skepper were both involved in a rapid chain of possessions that ended with Mimi Hill hitting Erone Fitzpatrick inside 50. Her accurate set shot launched a run of three goals in three minutes in the match-defining burst.

Eagles ruck approach hurts
West Coast made the difficult selection decision to drop young ruck Sarah Lackay after last week's loss to Gold Coast, going into Sunday's clash with the 180cm Lauren Wakfer and support at times from Kellie Gibson. The Eagles lost the hit-outs (57-15) convincingly and were edged in clearances (33-23). They have the midfield talent to take it up to opponents, most notably through captain Swanson and Aisling McCarthy, Bella Lewis and Roberts when she is in the midfield. But finding a solution in the ruck is a pressing need.

Up next
West Coast hits the road for a Sunday afternoon clash with Sydney at Henson Park, starting at 1.05pm AEST. The teams have never previously met, with the Swans in their second AFLW season. Carlton is back at IKON Park for a clash with Richmond, starting at 1.05pm AEST on Saturday. The Blues, who will be travelling home on a six-day break, lost last year's meeting by 10 points.

Team

B:	2 Jess Dal Pos	8 Vaomua Laloifi
HB:	4 Keeley Skepper	21 Harriet Cordner	6 Gabriella Pound
C:	14 Marianna Anthony	5 Abbie McKay	1 Amelia Velardo
HF:	37 Phoebe McWilliams	49 Madeline Hendrie	16 Breann Moody
F:	22 Mia Austin	3 Darcy Vescio
Ruck:	15 Jess Good	10 Mimi Hill	24 Brooke Vickers
Interchange:	25 Keeley Sherar	20 Lily Goss	34 Taylor Ortlepp
	27 Genevieve Lawson-Tavan	19 Erone Fitzpatrick
Coach:	Mathew Buck
Emg:	17 Dayna Finn	28 Imogen Milford	36 Ciara Fitzgerald

In: Taylor Ortlepp
Out: Annie Lee (omitted)

Milestones

AFLW Rising Star Nominees: Keeley Skepper

Interesting Facts

1. This was Carlton's first AFLW clash with the West Coast Eagles.
2. This was Keeley Skepper second AFLW Rising Star Nominees after receiving her first nomination in 4.

AFLW Team of the Week

Midfielders: Breann Moody
Forwards: Keeley Skepper

AFLW Coaches Votes

10 - Keeley Skepper (CARL)
8 - Breann Moody (CARL)
5 - Emma Swanson (WCE)
5 - Mimi Hill (CARL)
1 - Keeley Sherar (CARL)
1 - Brooke Vickers (CARL)

AFLW Best and Fairest Votes

3 - Breann Moody (CARL)
2 - Abbie McKay (CARL)
1 - Keeley Skepper (CARL)

Club Best and Fairest Votes

Match Highlights

Links

AFLW Season 2023 | Round 2 | Round 4