CARLTON’s VFLW coaching panel Shannon McFerran, Kerry Saunders, Brooke Surgeon and Emma Kerry have all played vital roles in the Club’s development in 2019.

Their hard work paid off in Round 11 with the Blues securing their biggest win and highest team score of the season against Williamstown.

McFerran has seen the development first-hand, having coached Carlton’s VFLW side in its inaugural season last year.

Having seen the improvement in form over the season, McFerran is eager to see the new faces living out Carlton values.

“Obviously in the season, we’ve made some progress and we were able to get a couple of wins on the board, which was really good,” McFerran said.

“It’s been really good this season having those girls that played in the first season to keep developing.”

This year is Saunders’ first season as an assistant coach of the VFLW side, having come from the Sunbury Lions football club.

Saunders arrived at Ikon Park alongside midfielder Simone Craige, who she coached in the Sunbury senior women’s side.

Saunders says she has noticed many positive differences between local football and VFLW.

“It’s totally different.”

“In local footy, some turn up, some don’t turn up, they’ll ring you at the last minute, whereas here it’s really structured, everybody will turn up, everybody does programs, everyone listens and takes on what you say.”

Kerry is also in her first year at the Blues after coaching Keilor to a premiership in 2017.

She is one of four Keilor members at Carlton, with Megan Neill, Sarah and Gemma Wright all thriving in Navy Blue.