WELCOME home. 

After being drafted to Fremantle in 2022, Tahlia Read couldn't hide her excitement about returning to Victoria and the potential of playing with Carlton.

Whilst enjoying her time around the beaches of Western Australia, Read - the 2022 best-and-fairest winner for the Calder Cannons - admits there’s no place like home. 

“The journey was a lot, but I’m so happy to be home,” Read said. 

“My family is from here so living back at home, being able to see Mum and Dad all the time and having that family support has really helped me so far.” 

Read was yet to play a game with the Dockers in the AFLW, but her hunger for making her debut in Navy Blue sooner rather than later in season 2023 can't be understated.

Wanting to work on many aspects of her game at IKON Park, Read said she couldn’t resist the lure of a fresh start at a new-look Carlton.

“They’re just such a big and emerging club,” she said. 

“I’ve heard great things – even though when I first came we were still looking for a coach, all the girls were so lovely from the minute I walked in. 

“I’ve seen they're a young team and I could see there’s heaps to learn and develop with them.” 

A versatile forward, Read wants to learn new roles at the Blues, helping fill holes wherever they need her to play. 

Having already had a stint in the VFLW side, Read is getting the lay of the land and finding her feet at her new club. 

“I feel like I’ve got so much work I can do: I’ve come a long way but I’ve got so many things to work on,” she said. 

“I want to work on my penetration kicking and learning different positions – I’m excited to learn with Carlton and do whatever they need me to do. 

"I’d love to work on my contested work in the air and bring that to my game.” 

A native Victorian, Read is familiar with a lot of her new teammates, having gone to school with Amelia Velardo and playing against Mia Austin and Keeley Skepper in the under-18 talent league.

The 19-year-old is looking forward to learning from her Carlton teammates as she lines up against them in training. 

“I’ve seen Mimi Hill play: she’s amazing, I’d love to learn and train with her,” she said. 

“I’m looking forward to training with new girls, seeing what they play like, learning off them and improving my game because they’ll be hard opponents in training.” 

Photo credit: Rob Lawson