Nicola Stevens stars for Carlton against former club Collingwood in AFLW season opener

WHEN Carlton lured Nicola Stevens from the Magpies, it was a kick in the guts for Collingwood and so it proved again in the AFLW season opener as the Blues pinched a thriller.

Kate Shierlaw and Tayla Harris celebrate a Carlton goal.

WHEN Carlton lured Nicola Stevens from the Magpies, it was a kick in the guts, really.

On Friday night at Ikon Park, as AFLW re-emerged on another beautiful summer’s evening in front of a near-on packed house of 20,000 fans, the reality of losing their first-year best and fairest set in.

As the Magpies locked the ball inside their forward 50 with four minutes to go, down by eight points, it was Stevens who was banging it back out.

AFLW BLOG: MAGPIE IN STRIFE FOR STRAY KICK

CHECKLIST: EXCITING, TOUGH BUT SCORING AN ISSUE

With two minutes to go, Stevens tellingly beat Mo Hope in a battle for the loose ball at the top of the goal square, using her pace and getting a scrappy but important kick out of the danger zone.

Stevens has fitted in seamlessly at Carlton. She’s was the general down back, allowing Bri Davey to go forward at times.

Davey was at her influential best, but the load is now shared.

Stevens crashed and bashed in the centre too, usually offloading a handball to a teammate.

But the question is, who is going to be the best of the big name recruits for the Blues?

Nicola Stevens in action for the Blues. Pic: Getty Images

Kate Gillespie-Jones (L) and Brianna Davey celebrate after the final siren. Pic: Getty Images

Former Brisbane marquee Tayla Harris showed why the Blues were happy she wanted to call Princes Park home in 2018. She was good in the air, a pack mark in the goal square the highlight, and her delivery by foot was also impressive.

She teamed ominously with Darcy Vescio, showing glimpses of what this paring could do. It didn’t tear the game apart, but look out, it will at some point this season.

When Vescio centred the ball from the boundary and Harris marked, 20m out, it was the script coach Damien Keeping had written during the off-season.

Vescio didn’t have the impact she had in the season opener last year.

She played deep and was being niggled first by debutant Illis Ross. Ross was so bewitched by Vescio, she was watching her, more like netballer, than where the ball was. Then Chloe Molloy arrived, and she quietened the star.

Collingwood could have discovered the debutant of the year with No.3 draft pick Molloy.

The 18-year-old was a forward in the VFLW, and a very good one.

Instead she played down back, taking the kick ins and also prowling across half back.

She was confident and assured. Not afraid to sneak up the wing and leave her opponent. Or even play on from the kick-in.

Then she snuck forward in the final moments of the game, giving Collingwood supporters hope of a match-winning goal, but her kick flew well wide and out on the full. She continued to tackle and chase, showing great fight.

Moana Hope surrounded by Carlton players.

Of the old guard, Hope went forward, like she probably was always going too despite being named in the centre.

She led strongly in the third term but couldn’t take the marks, being monstered doesn’t help.

Gun Collingwood recruit Jaimee Lambert was quiet in the first half but started to fire in the third term.

Stevens received the bronx cheers she probably expected. She was also roughed up by her former teammates at any opportunity.

But the Carlton faithful showed their support with a full voice, gleefully cheering her whenever she collected the ball.

She’ll perhaps be their favourite by season’s end, or that could be Tayla.

CARLTON 3.4 (22)

COLLINGWOOD 2.2 (14)

BEST

CARLTON: N.Stevens, B.Davey, T.Harris, J.Hosking, A.Downie, D.Hardiman

COLLINGWOOD: C.Molloy, S.Chiocci, J.Lambert, E.Grant, B.Bonnici, M.Kuys

VOTES

3. Nicola Stevens

2. Chloe Molloy

1. Brianna Davey