Goalkickers: S. McKay 3.2, T. Bohanna 2.2, L. Keck 2.1, D. Finn 1.1, K. Sherar 1.0, M. Hill 1.0, D. Vescio 0.1, A. Reidy 0.1, Rushed 0.2.

Reports: Nil.

Umpires: Andrew Mitchell, Heath Ryan, James Strybos.

Injuries: Nil.

Ladder: 3rd.

Game Review

Blues' second-half blitz brings down Suns

Carlton kicked seven goals to nothing in the second half to run away from Gold Coast. - By Sarah Black, AFL Media

Carlton has won three straight games for the first time since season six, 2022, proving a class above Gold Coast in a 46-point win at Ikon Park. After holding just a one-point lead at the main break, the Blues took full control in the second half, keeping the Suns to a solitary rushed behind in the 10.11 (71) to 4.1 (25) result. It was a midfield-driven game early, with both teams struggling to enter their respective 50s with much composure, with high bombs into attack the feature of the first term. The Blues had trailed by four points at quarter time following two sharp Suns snaps by Annabel Kievit and Havana Harris, but they came out with renewed vigour in the second term. It was former Suns skipper Tara Bohanna who broke the run of five straight Carlton behinds, snapping truly after the ball had been locked in attack for quite some time, and celebrating with style against her old club. The Suns didn't drop their heads, with Darcie Davies winning a two-on-one to convert, before clean ball movement hit Harris on the chest for her second. Carlton's well-structured back line – led by Harriet Cordner – strangled Gold Coast in the second half, holding the Suns scoreless in the third term as the Blues piled on the pain at the other end of the field, booting four in a match-winning term. The absence of Abbie McKay (hamstring) didn't hinder Carlton's midfield, with acting skipper Mimi Hill (24 disposals, six clearances) and speedster Erone Fitzpatrick (23) driving the Blues into attack again and again, with considerable support from winger Dayna Finn (26, one goal) on the outside. Sophie McKay – fresh off last week's Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination – played with plenty of vigour in attack, taking a few strong marks and kicking 3.2 for the game. Gold Coast co-captain Niamh McLaughlin (31) worked hard all game, and midfield duo Claudia Whitfort (28) and Charlie Rowbottom (29) found plenty of the footy, but were well down in metres gained, not covering enough ground with their hard-won ball. McLaughlin may come under MRO scrutiny for a late deliberate trip on Lila Keck as the cheeky Blue attempted to clear out after a stoush between the two in the fourth term, for which a free kick was paid in front of goal after the Sun lost her cool. Gold Coast showed that they have great promise and potential with a highly efficient first half, but the Blues experience shone through in the second half, kicking the last seven goals of the match which is their best goalkicking streak in any match this season. Carlton have scored 8.9 (57) to 3.0 (18) from intercepts in today's match, which is their second-largest margin of scores from this source in any match of the club's AFLW history. They will start the season 4-1 for the first time since 2020. Carlton have restricted the Suns to just 33 per cent time in possession in today's match. Over the first four weeks, the Suns had averaged a time in possession percentage of 47.4, the highest share of possession of a

New colours, same Bohanna
The spearhead moved south to Carlton over the off-season, in a win-win situation for both clubs, allowing room in attack for developing Suns talls Harris and Darcy while providing a proven goalkicker for the Blues. Marked by Clara Fitzpatrick for most of the game, Bohanna kicked 2.2 and took six marks, her new teammates mobbing her as she celebrated her first by wheeling away from goal.

Oh baby!
Lila Keck – a noted celebrator at junior level – celebrated her second career goal in front of Carlton's player balcony and inactive skipper Kerryn Peterson. She pointed to the players and rocked her arms in acknowledgement of baby Max Peterson, born on the eve of the season. Peterson took the Bendigo youngster under her wing when she joined the club last year.

Up next
Carlton faces the stiffest test of its season yet, hosting reigning premier North Melbourne at Ikon Park on Saturday. Gold Coast has its own stern task, facing Adelaide back home at People First Stadium late Sunday afternoon.

Best: M. Hill, D. Finn, E. Fitzpatrick, S. McKay, K. Harrington, H. Cordner.

Buck speaks on 'mature' win

Carlton AFLW coach Mathew Buck speaks on Saturday's win against the SUNS. - By Isabella Chessler

Carlton AFLW coach Mathew Buck speaks on the Blues' 46-point win over Gold Coast at IKON Park on Saturday.

On the team's performance at playing an attacking style game:
"I think we showed some maturity in our performance, tested in the first half (which) challenges your nerve around your inaccuracy and how that can hurt you in the game. So we spoke about how it's going to require some mature efforts around our ground ball game and contest to make sure we get back in the game. (I was) most pleased that we could turn it and get back into it that way and get the run off in the end." "We want to play a forward half game, I think that's true with most sides in the competition. I thought our defenders in particular managed to get us some repeat entries back inside, I think we had 26 repeat entries for the game which is a great number, (which) gave our forwards a great look at the game and we managed to take advantage of that in the end."

On the midfield's performance:
"(We came up) against a quality midfield in Gold Coast, who have some great midfielders and Lauren Bella in the ruck who we really rate as well. We've got Maddi Torpey in her second game, Maddy Guerin's first look at the midfield this year in a consistent way for her, so it was great to see those two get in there, but I thought Lily Goss really stood up for us. Such a strong contested player who managed to get the ball on the outside. "Mimi Hill was Mimi Hill which we always enjoy seeing, and then of course Keeley Sherar. her speed is really telling around the contest. From a mid perspective, really proud about the way they cracked in."

On the speed and form of the team:
"There's some brave ball use, we went to work on our fundamentals in the pre-season so we're starting to see some reward with effort from that and it's allowing those players to use their speed, whether it be Dayna or Erone, even Keeley Skepper, to read the game really well and get out on the open side. "We're really going for the game at the moment, we're seeing some pleasing results from that, but it always comes back to contest and defence for us as well. Let's make sure we're nailing those areas and we're continually nailing that, which gives us opportunity on rebound."

On the structural change with Darcy Vescio:
"It felt the ball was ping ponging up and down the ground a little bit, so it was a real turnover game and really open game, and because of that our forwards were getting trapped high up the ground, so we knew Darcy would be able to hold that structure for us. (We) put them up forward to give us some good length, which then provided a good target, and on the back of that we get some repeat entries, just that structural one that needed a mature head."

On young forwards, Sophie McKay and Lila Keck:
"Soph's really starting to come into her own now, had a lot of opportunities today, impacts the game both with offence and defence which is which is always pleasing to see, and brings great energy to our side. "That's true with Lila as well. She has to take every opportunity that comes her way, she's had such a big pre-season and worked so hard, we're chasing consistency with her all the time and it was great to see her get some reward today."

On the upcoming Round 6 clash against North Melbourne:
"We're really looking forward to that, they're the teams you really want to come up against and test yourself. Arden Street next week, really looking forward to getting out there and seeing how we hold up."

Team

In: Aisling Reidy, Lila Keck, Brooke Vickers.
Out: Yasmin Duursma (shoulders), Mia Austin (Omitted), Abbie McKay (Hamstring).

Milestones

Debut: Aisling Reidy
Tara Bohanna kicked her 50th (AFLW) goal.
Sophie McKay kicked a career high 3 goals.
Lila Keck kicked a career high 2 goals.
Mimi Hill was the Carlton Captain for the first time.

Interesting Facts

1. Brooke Vickers would play her first game in 670 days due to injury.
2. Carlton lined with up with 4 players recruited from Ireland in this match, Dayna Finn, Erone Fitzpatrick, Siofra O'Connell and debutant Aisling Reidy.
3. Carlton's third-highest-ever AFLW score.
4. Carlton's third biggest AFLW win.

AFLW Coaches Votes

9 - Dayna Finn CARL
6 - Erone Fitzpatrick CARL
5 - Harriet Cordner CARL
3 - Mimi Hill CARL
3 - Sophie McKay CARL
2 - Lily Goss CARL
1 - Claudia Whitfort GCFC
1 - Breann Harrington CARL

AFLW Best and Fairest Votes

3 - Niamh McLaughlin (SUNS)
2 - Mimi Hill (CARL)
1 - Tara Bohanna (CARL)

Club Best and Fairest Votes

Match Highlights