"It was certainly fast and certainly very aggressive, but I was up for the challenge."
Capping off a whirlwind few months, exciting young ruck Maddison Torpey made her AFLW debut in Saturday's win at IKON Park, after the 20-year-old signed as a Blue just a week before the 2025 pre-season started as a replacement player
Torpey spoke to Carlton Media post-match, reflecting on the thrill of her first AFLW game.
"The game's a lot faster and I knew it was going to be. I knew it was gonna be a lot more physical, and definitely prepped for that throughout the week," she said.
"I'm pretty happy with my performance, just to get the first debut game out of the way is pretty good. I just wanted to go in there and play the aggressive kind of game that I always play, and I think that I did that reasonably well.
"It certainly helps when I've got such an amazing midfield around me helping me and supporting me, so my work is thanks to the midfield."
When she's not playing footy, Torpey coaches at the local football club, Oakleigh Amateur Football Club alongside her dad. The team eager to watch their coach's debut, came down to watch and support on their silly Saturday, costumes and all.
"I had quite a few people here watching, the local team that me and my dad co-coach had their silly Saturday, so they were here all supporting, and then just lots of family and friends, so I felt very well-supported," she said.
"I was standing on the goal line hearing them yell my name... I could certainly hear them, I was trying to block it out as much as possible." she joked.
The 182cm ruck, who captained the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates League, is known to possess strong aerial ability which makes her a valuable player as she merges into the Carlton midfield.
"We've got a really young and exciting team...I think we're gonna play some amazing footy which we have already this year, such an easy group to get along with and gel with...Such a wonderful bunch of girls," she said.
"(I want to) play the best possible footy that I can. I spent quite a lot of time in the Coates Talent League and the VFLW program, so to me this next level is so exciting... to play the highest possible level of footy."
