Goalkickers: S. McKay 2.1, E. Fitzpatrick 1.2, K. Skepper 1.1, P. Scholz 1.0, L. Keck 0.1, Rushed 0.1.

Reports: Sophie McKay (CARL) was reported for tripping, it was graded as careless conduct, low impact and body contact. A sanction of $400 was handed down, reduced to $250 with an early plea.

Umpires: Lachlan Coyne, Andrew Mitchell, Shamus Dundon.

Injuries: Nil.

Ladder: 8th.

Game Review

Saints hold off Blues

How the Round 10 AFLW clash panned out. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media.

Carlton was unable to fight back against St Kilda, suffering a 13-point loss at IKON Park. Against a rampaging Saints outfit looking for their sixth win in a row, the Blues’ fight didn’t waver but they were unable to capitalise on a night where they fell 5.6 (36) to 7.7 (49). In their first home defeat of the season, the Blues left themselves with plenty to do when they trailed by three goals early in the second half, but played the majority of the final two terms in their half of the ground. However the Saints were able to hold the Blues off, despite the best efforts of a returning Maddy Guerin (24 disposals, five clearances), Dayna Finn (22 disposals, 10 marks) and Sophie McKay (18 disposals, two goals). On the back of last week’s outstanding individual performance, Poppy Scholz started in attack and was quick to pick up where she left off, producing a goal from a set shot to get the Blues on the board. However in a quarter where the Blues fumbled more than they would’ve liked, they were unable to impact any further on the scoreboard as a late goal gave the Saints an early buffer at the first change. Starting in imperious fashion, Harriet Cordner registered 10 disposals in the first term while Darcy Vescio had eight themselves, as the Carlton backline was under siege early. Goals to Georgia Patrikios and Sophie McKay cancelled each other before a stalemate ensued in the second term, only to be broken by St Kilda’s Hannah Stuart leading into the main break. When J’Noemi Anderson goaled at the start of the third quarter, the Blues were in trouble - but they responded in kind. However, the Blues were unable to get the go-ahead goal and the Saints’ speed troubled them on the counter attack, eventually kicking three goals either side of three-quarter time to open up a game-high lead. Carlton didn’t stop fighting, with Sophie McKay kicking her second on the night - and 10th of the season - as the ball lived in the Blues’ forward half for the majority of the final term. But it wasn’t to be for the Blues, registering consecutive defeats for the first time in 2025 while also falling for the first time at home this campaign. Sitting in eighth position and with its destiny still in its own hands, Carlton returns to IKON Park for the final time this home-and-away season when hosting GWS next Sunday at 3:05pm.

Saints sink Blues to notch up sixth straight win but injuries hit hard

St Kilda has climbed up the ladder despite losing a number of players against Carlton. - By Danielle Croci at Ikon Park.

St Kilda has strengthened its claims for a maiden finals series since entering the competition in 2020, overcoming Carlton by 13 points in a significant finals-shaper at Ikon Park on Saturday night. With both teams sitting at 6-3 coming in to the match and just 1.4 per cent separating them on the leader, the Saints held their nerve to run out 7.7 (49) to 5.6 (36) winners, treating the 2,480-strong crowd to an armwrestle. However, the injury concerns for the already walking wounded Saints continued, with Bec Ott ruled out late in the game with an ankle injury and Nicola Xenos (knee) and Georgia Patrikios (ankle) also being helped from the field by trainers. Tyanna Smith (21 disposals, six tackles, five clearances) produced an eye-catching game, combining nicely with Patrikios (22 disposals, two clearances) and Amber Clarke, who created plenty of opportunities and had a thrilling three-bounce run down the wing. Meanwhile, Maddy Guerin responded strongly to a couple of weeks out to finish with 24 disposals, five tackles and five clearances, while Telstra AFLW Rising Star hopeful Sophie McKay had a hand in nearly everything (18 disposals, two goals, four tackles). The pressure was high from the outset, leading to some early uncharacteristic dropped marks and kicks falling short. Nick Dal Santo, who notched up his 50th game as Saints coach, noted last week that his side was giving the opposition too many inside 50s and front-half opportunities this year, and it was a similar story early on Saturday night. However, the Blues were unable to capitalise, going at 16.7 per cent efficiency inside 50 by half-time, although they headed into the sheds +30 in uncontested possessions. They had a slow and patient build-up for their first goal, ending with Lila Keck sending a piercing ball to Poppy Scholz, who went back and coolly converted. It was often defensive slip-ups from Carlton after a build-up of pressure that led to the Saints converting. Yasmin Duursma's attempt to clear the ball after missing a mark deep in her defensive 50 was pounced upon by Guttridge, managed for last week's match against Collingwood, waltzing into an open goal for the Saints' first of the game. And in a moment Maddie Hendrie would like to forget, the defender failed to rush the ball through with Jesse Wardlaw hot on her tail. Wardlaw was able to handball off to Hannah Stuart to run into goal and convert. J'Noemi Anderson's goal early in the third quarter was soured after she needed to be helped from the field by trainers, unable to put any weight on her left ankle, though she later returned to the field after being strapped up. She recently missed two weeks with an ankle complaint. The Blues responded immediately, winning the centre clearance with Sophie McKay sending the ball inside 50, where Maddy Guerin's quick hands to Keeley Skepper made for an over-the-shoulder snap. Teammate Erone Fitzpatrick followed in kind, bending it around the body for two goals in a row. Carlton took the ascendancy in the third term, controlling and playing a strong front-half game – but was let down by its finishing, at times unable to stick marks and sending its set shots out of bounds on the full. A Saints goal against the run of play, with Hannah Priest taking a wobbly mark and ordered by Wardlaw to go back and take the set shot, pushed the margin back to 10 points at three-quarter-time. Early in the final quarter, the Saints drew first blood, with a desperate smother from Guttridge and clean pick-up leading her to an open goalsquare, with the Saints able to hold their nerve to move to 7-3 with two rounds to go. Carlton, meanwhile, teeters on the edge of the top eight.

Race to the Telstra AFLW Rising Star?
Carlton's Sophie McKay and Poppy Scholz continued to dazzle in their first years, trading goals early. Father-daughter selection Sophie, playing alongside sister and captain Abbie, kept pushing to create opportunities for teammates and added another goal later in the match. While it can be harder to draw the eye as a defender, Scholz has been thrown forward on a number of occasions by coach Mathew Buck to great effect – including in round six when she received her Rising Star nomination against North Melbourne. Sister Matilda, who won the award for Port Adelaide last year, will be handing over the prize at November's W Awards, adding to the intrigue. Who will it go to?

The battle between Hendrie and Wardlaw
The armwrestle between Blues defender Hendrie (five tackles) and the scary prospect of game-changer forward Wardlaw was one to watch. The failure to clear the ball on the goalline was a moment Hendrie would like to forget, but she had some nice moments – including a spin to get out of trouble in defensive 50 and shepherd to support teammate Gab Pound, to the delight of the home crowd. Wardlaw finished with two behinds but supported her teammates well with four tackles and 12 touches.

Up next
Both teams now take a breath until next Sunday afternoon. The Blues return to Ikon Park to take on GWS in their annual Carlton Respects game, while St Kilda will head to North Hobart Oval to face the League's current toughest task in North Melbourne.

Best: A. McKay, S. McKay, M. Guerin, H. Cordner.

Team

In: Madeleine Guerin, Maddison Torpey
Out: Mia Austin (Omitted), Aisling Reidy (Omitted)

AFLW Coaches Votes

8 - Tyanna Smith (STK)
5 - Serene Watson (STK)
4 - Erone Fitzpatrick (CARL)
4 - Paige Trudgeon (STK)
3 - Sophie McKay (CARL)
3 - Maddy Guerin (CARL)
2 - Georgia Patrikios (STK)
1 - Dayna Finn (CARL)

AFLW Best and Fairest Votes

3 - Tyanna Smith (STK)
2 - Amber Clarke (STK)
1 - Jess Good (CARL)

Club Best and Fairest Votes

Match Highlights