FROM CHANGING the game to paving the way.

As season 10 of the AFLW competition kicks off, Breann Harrington (née Moody) heads in as Carlton’s current games record holder, two-time Best and Fairest winner and dual All Australian.

Of the 80 games Carlton has played since that night in 2017, Harrington has missed only two of them. Since she was drafted in 2016 at the age of 2019, she’s been part of every chapter this team has written.

Along with a number of others, Carlton’s AFLW foundations have been built by people like Harrington - and when she constantly to reflect, she realises just how intertwined her story is with that of the Old Dark Navy Blues.

“It feels like a second home. I don’t know what made me think of it, but I was pondering how many hours I would’ve spent here over the last eight or nine years,” Harrington said.

04:00

My Carlton Story: Breann Harrington

Hear from Breann Harrington in the first edition of My Carlton Story, which talks through her connection to the club over the last 10 seasons.

“The sense of belonging that has come from that very first season, it’s been unreal.

“I don’t know what it’s like without it, which is pretty cool that this has been such a big part of my life. There’s been a lot of people come and go, but all have shaped who I am.”

While things changed forever back in 2017 when Harrington was one of the 22 to pull on the Navy Blue jumper against Collingwood at IKON Park, there’s been ongoing progression and alterations across the AFLW competition and Carlton more specifically.

Harrington can still recall the first time when the budding young footballer toured the previous locker rooms for the AFLW side, compared to now which sees a fully integrated, redeveloped training centre shared by the Club’s football programs.

Even now, Harrington has to come to the realisation that this is what she does - and IKON Park is the place she calls home.

“I need to pinch myself every now and then, that this is real and appreciate it.

“Looking back on some photos of our old locker room and the old facilities under the new Pavilion, I remember walking through with a handful of Cranbourne Eagles players and I just though ‘woah… how could that I could potentially be part of this’.

08:30

Reflecting on the first ever AFLW game

Darcy Vescio, Gab Pound and Breann Harrington read through fan memories of the first ever AFLW game at Ikon Park in 2017, sharing some of their own.

“It’s something I try not to take for granted. I really appreciate that I get to come in here whenever I need to, whenever I have to.”

As an original ‘Game Changer’, Harrington has seen all phases that the Blues have experienced up to the point where - under the tutelage of Mathew Buck - the team will enter another season by hosting the Pies at the home of women’s football.

Harrington was the third youngest player that night, but - compounded by the injury to Gab Pound - will be one of only two foundation Blues to feature in the season 10 variation alongside Darcy Vescio.

With nine players aged 22 or under tonight (Harrington was one of 11 in age bracket in 2017), it’s very much a new era for the Blues’ AFLW side nowadays - and Harrington relishes the role she has played and the one she’ll continue to play in shaping this team.

“I’m very much a cool, calm and collected person - but every now and then, it’s good to feed off the energy that the young ones bring… it helps to keep it fresh.

“For so long, I looked up to the Al Downies and the Phoebe McWilliams. Now I am one of the veterans, and I’m proud to say that.

“I love seeing the young ones come through, seeing the journey through their eyes - it’s very exciting. To think of all the players that will continue to come through and have this as their home and their workplace… it’s pretty special that I helped pave that way.”