CARLTON (3rd) vs MELBOURNE (4th)
Where: Casey Fields, Cranbourne
When: Saturday, 25 February
Time: 11:35am AEST
COVERAGE
Follow Carlton’s social media channels for live updates and to go behind the scenes. FOX Footy will broadcast the match live nationally and it can also be streamed live on the AFL Live app.
FORM GUIDE
Carlton lost its first game of the season last round, falling by three points to league leader Adelaide at Thebarton Oval. In what was the first interstate match for the Blues, the visitors had their measure early, only for the Crows to finish strongly in front of a vocal home crowd. With Darcy Vescio held to one goal, the Blues had to find alternative routes to goal in a low-scoring affair. Despite sustaining a lower back injury, Bri Davey (23 disposals, four tackles, six rebound 50s) again dominated proceedings, while Danielle Hardiman and skipper Lauren Arnell combining for 12 tackles between them.
Conversely, Melbourne has turned around its AFLW season to register consecutive wins against Collingwood (19 points) and the Western Bulldogs (14 points). The Demons took advantage of a Dogs outfit without star forward Katie Brennan to lead at every break from half-time away from home. Karen Paxman (27 disposals) and Daisy Pearce (26 disposals, six tackles) starred with the ball, while Alyssa Mifsud led the goalkicking with three majors.
The Blues and Dees met in a practice match at Ikon Park a month ago, with Carlton piling on six unanswered goals in a blistering final term to defeat Melbourne by 43 points.
Carlton proved too strong for Melbourne in its pre-season practice match in January. (Photo: Carlton Media)
WHAT THE STATS SAY
Carlton and Melbourne are almost equal for goals, with the Blues leading that department 16-14. The Blues lead the Demons for marks inside 50 (23 to 14), but the girls in red and blue get the football inside 50 more (90 times to Carlton’s 69). The Demons are prolific in centre clearances, leading the Blues 14-6. Both sides know how to win the contested ball and are tied at 307 contested possessions each for the season.
SELECTED TEAMS:
CARLTON
B: L.Brazzale 12, I.Ayre 22, L.Attard 14
HB: N.Exon 15, D.Vescio 3, B.Jakobsson 35
C: L.Arnell 13
HF: G.Pound 6, D.Hardiman 31, R.Privitelli 9
F: M.Keryk 4, A.Downie 30, K.Shierlaw 25
FOLL: S.Audley 26, K.Gillespie-Jones 5, T.Lucas-Rodd 18
I/C: K.Loynes 2, T.Nestor 20, J.Kennedy 23, A.Brown 27, S.Hosking 10, B.Moody 16
Emergencies: K.Darby 8
In: T.Nestor, J.Kennedy
Out: B.Davey (lower back), S.Last (knee)
MELBOURNE
B: B.Patterson 24, M.Clifford 44, K.Smith 13
HB: D.Pearce 6, L.Duryea 11, S.Scott 12
C: H.Cordner 21
HF: K.Paxman 4, D.Berry 7, L.Mithen 14
F: S.Lampard 8, J.Anderson 28, C.Phillips 35
FOLL: L.Pearce 15, M.Hickey 18, E.O'Dea 5
I/C: E.Humphries 3, R.Cranston 30, A.Newman 16, J.Grierson 19, M.Boyd 25, A.Mifsud 9
Emergencies: A.Kemp 36, S.Jolly 10
In: A.Newman
Out: S.Jolly
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
CARLTON
Danielle Hardiman
The consistent work of Hardiman has been a highlight for the Blues and AFLW coach Damien Keeping in the inaugural season. Fresh off 11 and 14-disposal games in the opening two rounds, Hardiman was again strong in Adelaide, gathering 15 disposals and showing her strong defensive game with a game-high six tackles. She’ll be a vital leader in the back half in Davey’s absence.
Bianca Jakobsson
The versatility of the tall Jakobsson has been on show early and often in the season, highlighted by her 17 marks in three rounds. Her strong-marking ability and athletic prowess to rebound with great efficiency has been critical to Carlton’s game plan. She took seven marks along with 11 disposals to be among the best in Adelaide and like Hardiman, will need to be on her game defensively to cover the loss of Davey.
MELBOURNE
Daisy Pearce
The Demons’ marquee player and one of the competition’s biggest names was prolific against the Dogs, picking up 26 disposals and a game-high six tackles and three inside 50s. Pearce not only knows how to find the football, but applies relentless pressure and regular sets up her teammates for scoring opportunities.
Karen Paxman
Paxman showed her prolific ball-winning ability with a whopping 27 disposals against the Dogs. The Melbourne midfielder can play anywhere on the ground and it was her versatility in gathering three tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s that showed she was everywhere on the club’s heat map against the Western Bulldogs. A great link-up player that supports the likes of Pearce and Melissa Hickey, Paxman will be pivotal for the Demons’ chances against the Blues on Saturday.
CONDITIONS
The weather is forecast to be partly cloudy, reaching a top of 19 degrees.
