Darcy Vescio kicks winning goal as Carlton break Collingwood hearts to keep Magpies winless in 2019
Collingwood looked headed for their first win of the AFLW season when they led Carlton deep into the final term. Enter Blues star Darcy Vescio. The forward has broken Magpies hearts to elevate the Blues to second on the Conference B ladder.
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Carlton has moved into second spot on the Conference B ladder after a hard-fought come-from-behind win over Collingwood at Ikon Park on Saturday night.
The Blues trailed by 10 points at the final change and didn’t regain the lead until there was just under four minutes left on the clock courtesy of a Darcy Vescio goal.
It was heartbreak for the Pies who remain winless in season 2019.
Carlton secured the victory 4.10 (34) to 4.5 (29).
REPORT: CATS STUN LIONS TO MOVE TO TOP OF CONFERENCE B
SEASON 2019: SEE THE FULL AFLW FIXTURE
HARFORD CALLS FOR SENIOR UMPIRE
Carlton coach Daniel Harford agrees the injection of a senior umpire would help raise the standard of AFLW officiating, after what appeared to be several obvious mistakes at Ikon Park.
A crucial deliberate out of bounds in Carlton’s forward 50m wasn’t paid as the game went down to the wire.
Harford was also left bemused after a new interpretation of the 50m penalty protected area was relayed to his players just prior to the game.
Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman said he wasn’t even told.
“I think like the players and the coaches, we make mistakes and perhaps that happens more frequently than we would like, but that’s the game,” Harford said.
“... I think that would be a perfect scenario, to have a senior umpire out there helping the two others on their way through.
“Now I understand it’s a pathway program and you’ve got to get them from somewhere; the AFL (umpires) ... need to have a chance to get themselves ready for what is an arduous season.
“It’s a difficult task and I just don’t think they have the numbers to get the winter umpires to umpire in the summer.”
BLUES CAN LOOK BRILLIANT
It was regulation Darcy Vescio that put the Blues back in front with just under four minutes to go at Ikon Park.
Recovering from a marking contest inside attacking 50, clean hands, snap, goal.
Vescio, monstered all night, stepped up alongside Carlton’s other big names.
Madi Prespakis was getting sat on by Britt Bonnici in the midfield, but the exciting Blue found a way.
The 18-year-old coolly slotted a set shot on a 45 degree angle for one of the moments of the night.
It was after Tayla Harris was brave and skilled, launching with the flight to make a marking contest. The ball spilt to Bri Davey who chipped to Prespakis.
DARCY VESCIO!
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 2, 2019
Blues take the lead late in the fourth quarter. 😱#AFLWBluesPies pic.twitter.com/VGEfE7arJn
WHO ARE THESE MAGPIES?
Was this the same side that kicked, until Brisbane’s loss to Geelong on Saturday, the equal-lowest score in AFLW history?
A list largely void of stars (aside from their brilliant netballer Ash Brazill) suddenly looked full of potential.
Sarah Rowe was having a good night and, maybe it was a little bit of ‘luck of the Irish’ when she was handed a free kick just on three-quarter-time. She made it count from distance, though, and the Magpies had a 10-point lead.
Katie Lynch showed why the Magpies took her at pick 11, laying a brilliant tackle on Blues defender Gab Pound to secure a free kick about 25m out. She converted.
The Magpies’ first pick in the draft Jordyn Allen also stepped up. The 18-year-old made the Blues defenders pay after they chose to kick across the face of goal. Allen attacked a bouncing ball and snapped truly.
TAYLA SHOULDERS THE LOAD
The Blues forward hero Tayla Harris started the game how she left off last week, with a poster.
But unlike against the Cats where she imploded, Harris responded only moments later with a brilliant tackle on Collingwood ruck Eliza Hynes inside 50. She took her time, went back and slotted the goal.
Her marking is crucial and so too is her troublesome right shoulder.
She was thrown to the ground in the first term and it hurt, she had treatment at quarter time. She went down five minutes into the third term and it looked all over, but again she returned to the field after treatment.
UPGRADE NEEDED
The Ikon Park lighting upgrade can’t come quick enough. One of the portable light towers went out — it’s happened before in AFLW — and one pocket was in darkness for a period of time.
The old ‘off-on’ trick worked a treat but it needs to get sorted.
So too does the AFLW umpiring. Of the several shockers, a deliberate out of bounds in Carlton’s forward line that wasn’t paid stands out.
Upgrades needed.
ELIZA SEWELL’S BEST
CARLTON: Vescio, Davey, Prespakis, Harris
COLLINGWOOD: Rowe, Chiocci, Lambert, Brazill
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