2025 AFLW Pre-Season
Player list for match simulation:
The Blues fielded an extended squad for their match simulation, with 26 players listed, including the first look at Charlotte Brewer, who signed on for the Blues yesterday as an injury replacement player.4. Keeley Skepper
5. Abbie McKay
6. Gab Pound
7. Poppy Scholz
10. Mimi Hill
11. Yasmin Duursma
13. Siofra O'Connell
14. Aisling Reidy
15. Meg Roberston
16. Breann Harrington (née Moody)
17. Dayna Finn
18. Maddy Guerin
19. Erone Fitzpatrick
20. Lily Goss
21. Harriet Cordner
22. Mia Austin
23. Lila Keck
24. Brooke Vickers
25. Keeley Sherar
31. Lou-Lou Field
32. Charlotte Brewer
37. Maddison Torpey
42. Tara Bohanna
49. Madeline Hendrie
55. Sophie McKay
Match Simulation.
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| Venue: | IKON Park, Carlton. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Friday 25th Jul, 2025 (5.00 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Lost by 10 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | Austin 2, Bohanna, Fitzpatrick, Goss, Sherar | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
Who impressed in opening 2025 hitout?
A summary of the AFLW practice match against Richmond. - By Cristian Filippo, Carlton Media
A new-look Carlton side has displayed plenty to like in its first practice match of 2025. Despite falling by 10 points to Richmond in the 6.3 (39) to 7.7 (49) defeat, the Blues showcased some of the attacking talent which has been a key focus throughout the pre-season. Fielding no less than eight new faces, there was a very different feel to this Carlton side in the lead-up to Round 1… but it was a returning name which was the story of the night from a Carlton perspective. Playing her first senior game in nearly two years following an ACL injury, Erone Fitzpatrick showed exactly what the Blues were missing in 2024, lighting up Carlton’s front half while also pushing into the midfield in an outstanding return performance. Fitzpatrick was quick off the mark with a crafty snap in the first quarter, setting the scene for a dynamic opening 15 minutes for the Blues which saw them record three goals in quick succession. However, Richmond hit back in the closing stages of the first term to draw within five points, before keeping the Blues scoreless in the second term to see the home side trail by 10 points at the main break. Playing her first game in the Navy Blue, father-daughter recruit Sophie McKay attacked everything in the forward line, while first-round draftee Poppy Scholz had the chance to line up on gun Richmond forward Katie Brennan on a number of occasions throughout the night. The Blues rotated no less than 25 players throughout the night, with Maddy Guerin coming from the field early following a cork to the shin and not returning as a precaution. In the second half, the Blues came out with renewed vigour, with Yasmin Duursma - returning to her traditional role on the wing - one of a number who brought the Blues back into the game. Duursma’s holding-the-ball tackle ended in Tara Bohanna assisting Mia Austin for her second, before Bohanna went from provider to scorer moments later with a crafty goal from the ruck contest — her first in her childhood Navy Blue colours.
When Duursma’s intercept then found Keeley Sherar, the Blues entered the final change with a two-point lead, albeit with conditions at IKON Park meaning the Blues had to negotiate a tricky final-quarter breeze. New ruck Maddison Torpey didn’t return following a cut to her knee in the third term, allowing Irish recruit Aisling Reidy to come into the game, while the experienced Harriet Cordner was managed and replaced by Siofra O’Connell at the final change. The Blues battled strongly to stay in the contest until the very last minutes, but despite not getting the victory in the opening contest of the 2025 campaign, it was clear that there were signs of growth leading into the season proper. Carlton will play its final practice match against GWS in Sydney next Saturday, before hosting Collingwood in the season opener at the home of women’s football IKON Park on Thursday 14 August.
Practice Match.
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| Venue: | Blacktown International Sportspark, NSW. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Saturday 2nd August, 2025 (12.05 pm). | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Won by 21 points. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | T. Bohanna 2, S.McKay 2, K.Skepper 2, B.Harrington, L.Keck 1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | Nil. | ||||||||||||||||||
Blues hold firm in Blacktown
- By Rose Zarucky, Carlton Media
As the Blues prepare for Season 10 of the AFLW, they faced the Giants in a practice match at Blacktown International Sports Complex. In a wet and muddy affair, it was Carlton who emerged victorious, taking plenty of positives into their 2025 season. New Blues Tara Bohanna and Sophie McKay both impressed with two goals each while Maddy Guerin and Mimi Hill were instrumental in the contest. This was Carlton's last practice match before facing Collingwood in Round 1 on Thursday 14 August.
Quarter one
Both teams made the most of the wet conditions in the first term, with clean disposals and clearances aplenty. Tara Bohanna was the first to hit the scoreboard, taking the ball directly out of the ruck for a clean snap on goal. Mimi Hill was back to her natural best in the midfield, using her body in the contest and delivering the ball inside 50. The Giants got the better of the Blues’ defence, picking their way through easily and resulting in three goals for the term. Greater Western Sydney’s intercept game halted Carlton’s transition, allowing them to hold possession for the majority of the quarter. A late mark and goal from Brea Harrington (neé Moody) - set up by Sophie McKay in her first outing - closed the margin, with the Blues trailing by three points at quarter time.
Quarter two
It was a dominant quarter for the Blues, who managed to pin the ball in their forward half for the majority of the term. Jess Good held firm in the ruck, while Dayna Finn was strong in the contest. Unfortunately, Greater Western Sydney set up well in Carlton’s forward 50, picking off the intercept, but the Blues did well to stop their run through the middle of the ground through Harriet Cordner and Darcy Vescio. Maddy Guerin had plenty of the ball, putting her body on the line for the ground balls, while Hill did well to get back quickly and provide run and carry in transition. It was Lila Keck who slotted the only major for the term for the Blues, running into an open goal while fire alarms blared at Blacktown International Sports Park. Mia Austin, Guerin and Keck all had shots on goal that they failed to convert, leaving the Giants to take a one-point lead - executing a late goal - into the main break.
Quarter three
The third term was a scrappy affair, with neither side able to pin the ball in their front half. It was a hot start for the Giants, who kicked a goal in the opening minutes to extend their lead. Good provided strong hands behind the ball and used her powerful kick to open up the ground. Greater Western Sydney were hot in transition, using speed and class to stream away into their forward half, but Carlton’s intercept game deep in the back half was solid. It was a back-and-forth term with neither side able to make much scoreboard impact. Vescio was moved into the forward line to try and generate some spark, which resulted in a very opportunistic goal from Sophie McKay – a true reward for effort in the Blues’ forward line and put their nose in front heading into the final term.
Quarter four
Things were looking tense as the Giants opened the final term with a goal, taking a one-point lead over the Blues. Carlton ramped up the pressure in the front half, resulting in a snap goal from Keeley Skepper, followed up quickly with a lovely set shot from Bohanna. Sophie McKay took advantage of an empty goal square to roll through a goal and give the Blues a healthy lead. Lou Lou Field and Amelia Velardo were busy behind the ball while Erone Fitzpatrick was instrumental with her forward 50 entries. In what seemed like déjà vu, it was Skepper who sealed the game from the same angle that she secured a victory for the VFLW Blues just weeks before, threading the needle to guarantee a hard-fought 21-point win.
Team
| B: | 21 Harriett Cordner | 49 Madeline Hendrie | |
| HB: | 3 Darcy Vescio | 7 Poppy Scholz | 19 Erone Fitzpatrick |
| C: | 17 Dayna Finn | 25 Keeley Sherar | 11 Yasmin Duursma |
| HF: | 36 Ciara Fitzgerald | 42 Tara Bohanna | 18 Madeleine Guerin |
| F: | 55 Sophie McKay | 22 Mia Austin | |
| Ruck: | 12 Jess Good | 5 Abbie McKay (C) | 10 Mimi Hill |
| Interchange: | 31 Lou-Lou Field | 1 Amelia Velardo | 4 Keeley Skepper |
| 6 Gab Pound | 23 Lila Keck | 16 Breann Harrington | |
| 20 Lily Goss | 15 Meg Robertson | ||
| Coach: | Mathew Buck | ||
| Emg: | 32 Charlotte Brewer | 14 Asling Reidy |
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