IN SEASON 6, Carlton’s backline was a critical part of the Game Changers’ game. 

Led by skipper Kerryn Peterson, the Blues’ defensive prowess shone through, which was particularly evident at the Club's Best and Fairest awards with a number of players taking home individual honours.

In a promising sign for the Blues, the key pillars of that very defensive line have put pen to paper and re-committed to the Game Changers for the next two seasons. 

Inaugural Game Changer Gab Pound said there was never any question of changing allegiances, and that keeping the back group together was a priority for a united defensive group.

“I think it’s been really important for us to stay together,” Pound said.  

“I think you can tell in the way that we play - we’re nice and cohesive - that we’ve had that experience for a certain amount of years with each other. 

“Hopefully moving on, we can see more consistency with players in the rest of the group and gelling really well and playing and performing consistently.”

Affectionately known throughout the team as the ‘heart and soul’ of the group, the defenders take it upon themselves to set the standards for each other and put in the extra work outside of training. 

New to the backline last season, Paige Trudgeon was overwhelmed with the way she was welcomed with open arms and how she instantly felt a connection and duty to the backline way of life. 

“Both on and off the field as a backline, we refer to each other as ‘the heart and soul’ and we mean every word of it, because we honestly will do anything for any of the players on the team but especially as a backline group,” Trudgeon said.  

“The community we’ve made and the way that we play, it’s a really unselfish position: I’m really keen to keep playing with them this season.” 

According to Mua Laloifi, integrating new players into the backline hasn’t been an issue, with younger players such as Trudgeon, Daisy Walker and Annie Lee all getting exposure in the side on the back of a hunger and willingness to learn. 

As long as they can take a bit of banter, Laloifi is certain that the backline is going to continue being a crucial part of Carlton’s game in the coming years. 

“‘Trudgey’ has evolved into a player that we saw throughout all of last season grow and be a key position for us down back,” Laloifi said.  

“It wasn’t hard to integrate her into our backline, especially with the type of person that she is: she is very willing to learn and take on feedback.

“Then you've got the speedy Walker who just does the selfless things for us. No one really sees it and she’s a very quiet achiever. 

“Annie Lee, who is also a very skilled back that will probably come back into the side and show us some great kicks inside 50: we have so many young ones that have so much talent so we’re excited to see them blossom this season.”

Laloifi also mentioned the lack of external plaudits for any AFL backline, noting that the main goal of the Game Changers group is to acknowledge the defensive efforts that may go unnoticed by the public. 

“As the heart and soul of the group, we don’t really get a lot of love when it comes to [external] reviews so I think we bond a lot when we give each other banter, especially going off on our ‘middies’ and our forwards because they usually get the credit for a lot of things,” she said. 

“I think being the heart and soul is just the group that holds us together, so it’s good to see a lot of us are staying around."