TAKE your moment.
AFLW Senior Coach Mathew Buck was pleased with another Carlton victory, this time in torrential conditions at IKON Park.
Kicking out to an early lead and then holding on in a four-quarter slog, Buck said the defensive grit and pride of the group was on show as the Blues ensured they emerged from the 2026 AFLW Carlton Respects Game with a win.
Here’s what he had to say.
On how the game played out:
“It was really tough, really slippery. It was a game of momentum: if you get the ball going your way, it gave you the ability to play the game in your end which gave more chances to score.
“It took us back to our elimination final last year against West Coast in really similar conditions. We had a little look at that prior to the game, I thought it set us up well for what to expect during the game. That helped us start the game really strong, with our ability to take the game forward and be happy to play in a scrap and rely on some grit.
“It was a game of needing to take your moment. We had those opportunities, and the players buried them really well.”
On a big defensive effort:
“The numbers tonight didn’t worry me too much, it was more play the moment that’s in front of you and shut up shop late, put some numbers behind the ball and defend the lead.
“I’m not sure the numbers will tell the true story of how the game was played. Hawthorn was great, I thought their second half was incredibly good and they stood up around the ball and outnumbered us more often than not.
“Our defenders are pretty miserly, they don’t want to give too much up: a big shoutout to those guys again, who keep holding up really well.”
On emerging combinations all over the field:
“They’ve got the combination back there, with Síofra O’Connell who continues to grow every week. Maddy Hendrie’s athletic ability probably goes unnoticed, she’s a terrific deep defender and gets the job done time and time again.
“Gab Pound came back in and was fantastic, Brooke Vickers has played a lot of footy with us now and slotted in at half-back this year and doing a steady job. The defensive unit has been really good, and we’ve got some midfielders who transition really well.
“Abbie McKay and Mimi Hill have been around for a long time, and the combination with Claudia Whitfort going through and Lily Goss - who is super defensively minded - is allowing us to defend the ground well.”
On Abbie McKay’s impact on the game:
“I thought she started a little bit slow, but she digs in really well. Her ability to understand what the game needs from her, to get the ball out to our runners when needed or to take ground needed - she will do anything to make sure the team wins, whether that’s getting a heap of the ball or getting none of the ball.
“Abbie has had an outstanding year to this point off the back of a huge pre-season, she’s started the year really strongly and been one of the great midfielders in the competition.
“She plays the game a little bit differently to others, her ability to get the ball from inside to outside - which is difficult in the AFLW competition - is something she does really well. I think she’s a great leader amongst our group, in her second year as captain, she’s been outstanding.”
On potential returns from injury in coming weeks:
“Lila will still be a little bit more time, she’s still in a boot. Darcy could be available over the next two weeks, it’ll either be this week coming or the week after. We’ve got a bit of a longer break this time, that’ll be helpful.”
