“YOU blinked and it was gone.”

It was a whirlwind season seven for Lucy McEvoy, who overcame a pre-season shoulder injury to piece together one of her best AFLW campaigns yet.

In doubt for selection for Carlton’s blockbuster season opener against Collingwood, McEvoy was named for the Blues in an event which surprised most – McEvoy included.

She went on to record 24 disposals, six tackles, five marks and 10 intercept possessions in a near best-on-ground performance.

“I almost think pre-seasons are a hoax now,” McEvoy joked.

“It was good, in a way. I was just able to just keep the focus on getting through every game and I didn't have to think about anything else too much.

“Somehow, I was able to make it through 10 games – just. I have the medical staff and the high-performance staff to thank for that.”

Since that Round 1 performance McEvoy never looked back, finishing the season with an average of nearly 14 disposals per game, four intercept possessions and three rebound 50s, with her season culminating in selection in the final 22under22 team for season seven.

Increased minutes down back provided McEvoy with the consistency she needed to take her game to the next level.

“It was probably good just having the one spot down back the majority of the time, having that consistency with my position helped with consistency in my performance,” she said.

“I didn’t mind getting forward a couple of times but the more I played down back, the more comfortable I felt and the more confident I was.”

With McEvoy’s growing confidence, came added responsibility through her inclusion in the Blues’ group of emerging leaders.

“It was a really good experience. I loved every second of it and I've learned so much from our senior leaders in ‘Kez’, ‘Darce’ and ‘Dal’, they've all taught me so much already and to be in it alongside ‘Moods’ and ‘Mim’ as well excites me for what's to come,” she said.

“It was a lot of hard work that we had to do, and we'll hopefully continue to do and I look forward to where it can take us.”

As an emerging leader, one of McEvoy’s greatest satisfactions from the season gone by has been watching her teammates flourish.

“A highlight was definitely Tay Ortlepp’s goal – when she kicked it, I was on the bench, but we still had fun and celebrated it.

“In saying that, all the first-year players for us that kicked goals and all the first-time goal kickers, that was pretty cool.”

Post-season shoulder surgery and a quiet Christmas back home are now on the cards for McEvoy, before it's back to work.

"Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted, but we definitely can take a lot out of it heading into 2023.

“We want to be the best. I want to be the best. That's definitely the goal for next season.”

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