CHILDHOOD Bluebagger Tara Bohanna will officially pull on the Navy Blue No.42 jumper for the first time tomorrow night.

After being recruited to the Blues last off-season, the former Gold Coast captain will be the third club debutant when Carlton kicks off the AFLW campaign against Collingwood on Thursday.

Bohanna joins AFLW debutants Sophie McKay and Poppy Scholz as the new faces for the Blues, with the experienced forward settling into IKON Park life seamlessly this pre-season.

A three-time leading goalkicker at Gold Coast and named in the All-Australian squad in 2023, Bohanna spent three years as Suns skipper - so it was no surprise when she was immediately voted into the leadership group upon her arrival on Royal Parade.

A key presence in the forward half among a young group, Bohanna hit the scoreboard in both practice matches the Blues have played leading into Round 1, as well as getting a pair of VFLW games under her belt to gain some valuable minutes with her new teammates.

Averaging over a goal a game across her 42 senior appearances to date, Bohanna was sought out by the Blues who were keen to bolster their attacking firepower under Mathew Buck for season 2025.

Tomorrow night, the AFLW landscape will get their first glimpse at a new-look Carlton side.

The Blues will announce their full team tonight (Wednesday) at 6:20pm.