Carlton VFLW opened its 2026 campaign with a victory over Darebin on Saturday at Preston City Oval in the annual Pride Round match.
The Blues started their season in style, defeating Darebin by 18 points in a convincing performance; the final score reading 7.8 (50) to 5.3 (33).
The visitors came out firing from the opening bounce, wasting no time as they gained control of the game. Nell Morris-Dalton found the leather as she booted the opening goal, before Alessia Acquaro followed with another, giving the Blues the early lead.
Carlton controlled possession and locked the ball in its attacking half. Meanwhile, the defensive line held firm, cementing a brick wall along Darebin’s forward 50 and ensuring the home team remained scoreless in the opening term.
The defensive pressure continued into the second quarter as Sophia McCarthy put together a powerful performance, her first major coming after an strong mark and run, before she followed up with another only minutes later, finishing cleanly after a passage of handballs inside 50. The Blues continued to dominate around the contest, keeping their pressure high.
The Falcons eventually found a way to break past the Blues’ defence and hit the scoreboard just before the half-time siren, but Carlton still held the lead.
Carlton returned with the same ferocious intensity after half-time and refused to surrender its advantage.
Co-captain Grace Master helped the team maintain control at each contest, finishing with 19 disposals, 11 handballs and 28 hit-outs.
The final term tested the Blues as Darebin crept up on the scoreboard; however, they held firm. With much of the final quarter played in the Falcons’ attacking forward, the Blues’ defence worked hard, denying the Falcons’ two critical opportunities to convert as the opposition continued to press.
Despite Darebin’s efforts to close the margin, Carlton maintained control and composure, keeping their energy up until the final siren sounded to seal the deal on a well-earned Round 1 win.
Hannah Scott was a standout player with 25 disposals, 17 kicks, 12 tackles and seven clearances, as was Zoe Larkins, who also recored 25 touches to go with 13 kicks, 12 handballs and four clearances.
Carlton VFLW Coach Aasta O’Connor praised her team's "ability to lean into the learnings” of the pre-season and translating that work into a game.
“They were rewarded for effort. We talk about process and system a lot, and they 100% executed our system today,” O’Connor said.
“We'll continue to learn throughout the season. This competition's really close.”
O’Connor also commended first-time Captain Master’s extraordinary ability to “execute and lead the team” as well as the efforts of McCarthy, who “didn’t lose a contest”, reaping the rewards of her hard work with two goals.
O’Connor credited Darebin for hosting the annual Pride Round game, reinforcing that "everybody belongs and should feel safe to be themselves when they come to the game".
Carlton will now take on North Melbourne next Saturday at IKON Park, marking the Blues' first home game for the season.
“I’ve watched the growth over pre-season and I think we are really well set up, in terms of players being able to execute the systems we’ve got set in place,” O’Connor said.
CARLTON 2.6 (18) 5.6 (36) 7.7 (49) 7.8 (50)
DAREBIN 0.0 (0) 2.0 (12) 3.1 (19) 5.3 (33)
GOALS (Carlton): Acquaro, Di Donato, Elkington, Lynch, McCarthy 2, Morris-Dalton
Eve Joyce is a student at La Trobe University, undergoing a Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism and Marketing). Eve is currently undertaking an internship at the Carlton Football Club as part of its partnership with La Trobe University
