15,337 fans flocked in for the AFLW season opener – not quite lockout standards that the AFL were preparing for, but still a great effort.
Hopefully the Tiger fans aren't turned off by that showing!
AFLW season opener Richmond v Carlton: Blues spoil Tigers' party, Andy Maher injures calf.
Richmond might have been out for its first AFLW clash but it was the Blues that looked more reminiscent of a familiar Tiger outfit. Meanwhile, the night wasn't much better for Carlton runner and media personality Andy Maher.
The next generation is here.
It’s been said that “pathway players” are the future of AFL Women’s, but the future is now.
How do you solve a problem like Prespakis?
It was the dilemma that plagued Richmond this week – just how would they stop the reigning Rising Star?
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP EVERY MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Truth is, they couldn’t.
Last season it was the likes of Erin Phillips that gave opposition coaches nightmares.
Hold my kombucha, it was as if Prespakis said, as she and fellow young gun Lucy McEvoy opened the window to the future on the first night of AFLW04 at Ikon Park.
With Bri Davey gone from the Blues’ midfield, it was wondered who would be the one(s) to step up.
And this pair had Tigers faithful tearing their hair out.
Tiger Alana Woodward did everything she could to keep Prespakis, 19, in check but lockdown attempt was futile with the Blues victorious by 34 points.
Prespakis worked hard over the off-season – in the gym, on the track.
It showed.
Her hard work has paid off.
AND WHAT ABOUT HER NO.2?
LUCY McEvoy moved to “the big smoke” over the off season.
Last night, in the shadows of the Melbourne skyline, the kid from Geelong delivered a showing worthy of a No. 2 pick and a pathway to AFL Women’s.
McEvoy, 18, played most of her junior footy the backline “with the boys”, but it was in the air that the all-rounder showed her biggest asset.
Her contested marking was huge and will be valuable all over the ground – a place she knows well having been named in the youth All-Australian team across all three lines of the ground.
AFL Hall of Fame member Terry Wallace labelled her one of the cleanest players he’s seen in AFLW – he’s not wrong.
WE ARE THE NAVY….WHO?
Richmond might have been out for its first AFLW clash but it was the Blues that looked more reminiscent of a familiar Tiger outfit.
Carlton’s aggression and ability to maintain pressure had all the hallmarks of Richmond’s famous 2017 men’s premiership.
Reigning Rising Star Maddy Prespakis buzzed about and booted a goal while her tagger Alana Woodward could only watch on from the bench, with Georgia Gee around to hassle, too.
Olympic gold medallists Chloe Dalton and Brooke Walker delivered, the latter on the scoreboard, and while there was turnovers and inaccuracy in front of goal, last year’s grand finalists – without their former skipper in the middle, no less – got off to a rollicking start.
TIGER CUBS
There’s no denying it - Carlton’s experience shone. Yes, the Tigers have played VFLW together, but this is a different ball game.
And the difference between three seasons in the competition and being the new kids on the block – with 11 making their AFLW debut - showed from the get-go.
They were jumped, and couldn’t get a look at the scoreboard until Sabrina Frederick – finally – landed a goal almost four minutes in the final term.
Coach Tom Hunter refused to use the occasion as an excuse.
“It might be a reason, but I think we were really well prepared, that’s for sure,” he said.
“It would have been nice to have a positive result on the scoreboard, but it was one of those nights that was a little bit bigger than footy.
“For the Richmond Football Club to have a women’s side run out for the first time in their inaugural season in front of so many yellow and black supporters, I think it meant a lot to a lot of people.
“We’re excited … to get that first game under our belts.”
This is a side that averaged more than 44 points in the home and away season of VFLW. The Tigers – and broadcasters endeavouring to capitalize on commercial opportunities – will be disappointed in the lack of scoring.
CROWDED HOUSE?
They flooded to Ikon Park but not in the numbers that had been expected. The AFL and both clubs had hoped that lightning might strike twice and that Gillon might have been required to issue another apology in front of a locked-out gate.
But it wasn’t to be.
While the final crowd of 15,337 shouldn’t be sneezed at, beautiful conditions and two powerhouse clubs had all the makings of capacity.
GET OUT THE RAZOR
It was a request from the players to the game’s top brass that was a relatively easy one to facilitate – the game’s top umpires to be in charge of the whistle for the country’s premier women’s football competition.
And the effect was immediate.
Ray Chamberlain – who officiated last year’s AFL Grand Final – had the first ball-up and while there were moments of typical theatre, including a free kick paid from 50m away in the second quarter, the standard of umpiring after just one game was a level above that of last season.
Harford had called for senior umpires last season and said it was “a great thing for the competition”.
“Some of the senior umpires are really excited about being a part of it,” he said.
“A, because it gets them out of training. Just like the girls - they don’t want to train – they want to play.
“Not only is it a good look for the competition, it’s the right thing to do, and the umpires and the players both want it so I don’t see how it’s ever going to be a bad thing. More of it, I say.”
TAY GETS HER WAY
It was a big off-season for Tayla Harris, who claimed another Australian title in the boxing ring. And the work showed, with her physicality a key asset on Friday night.
Back doing what she does best, Harris, 22, was strong in the air and in front of goal.
Don’t get in her way.
MAN DOWN
There is a serious injury concern for Carlton.
Runner Andy Maher was felled with what looked to be a serious calf injury during the third quarter, requiring treatment from trainers before hobbling to the three-quarter time huddle where he was replaced for the rest of the game.
“I pushed him out to get a message out and I saw him pop,” Harford laughed, joking about Maher’s prospects.
“Scans, the physios have said they’re not quite sure, he’s on his way to the Epworth at the moment.”
Ouch.
ONE CLUB
As club president Peggy O’Neal said pre-game, the women’s team has “completed” the puzzle at Punt Road.
And the premiership men’s team got right behind their female counterparts, showing out in force at Ikon Park.
Flag-winning forward Tom Lynch took in the game alongside young gun Sydney Stack, whose girlfriend and Tigers midfield star Monique Conti joked mid-week “didn’t have a choice” about attending.
“That’s my girl,” a proud Stack posted on Instagram pre-game.
Families and friends flocked to the ground – including the parents of coach Tom Hunter all the way from Port Douglas - to witness history in the making.
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 0.0 0.2 0.2 2.2 (14)
CARLTON 1.5 1.8 5.9 6.12 (48)
GOALS
Richmond: Frederick, Wakefield
Carlton: Loynes, Vescio, Walker, Harris, Prespakis, Downie
INJURIES:
Richmond: Nil Carlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 15,337 at Ikon Park
Lauren's best: 3 Maddy Prespakis, 2 Lucy McEvoy, 1 Natalie Plane
Updates
Crowd figure
15,337 fans flocked in for the AFLW season opener – not quite lockout standards that the AFL were preparing for, but still a great effort.
Hopefully the Tiger fans aren't turned off by that showing!
Kate Salemme
Katie Brennan has always led by example.
As one of the AFLW’s most hardworking and professional athletes, it’s hard for aspiring female footballers not to follow her lead.
But after two seasons wrecked by injury to begin her AFL Women’s career, the star Richmond recruit has been forced to adapt.
Brennan, 27, played just two games in the inaugural season for the Bulldogs in 2017 and three the following year before seven games last season while coming off an ankle reconstruction.
It’s been tough. It’s changed her.
Lauren Wood is at Ikon Park, and she estimates there is around 5,000 in the gates with just under an hour to go.
But with plenty stuck outside the gates, expect that number to rise significantly
Lauren Wood reports…
Carlton's injury troubles keep on coming!
Blues star Darcy Vescio is getting treatment on the sidelines for a suspected corkie on her right leg.
The Blues have done it!
They run out 34 point victors over Richmond, with two last quarter consolation goals saving the Tigers from an embarrassing scoreline.
Score: Richmond 2.2.(14) defeated by Carlton 6.12.(48)
Young gun Maddy Prespakis was everywhere in the contest, tallying 21 disposals and booting a goal despite copping a head knock early in the match.
Blues take out season opener
The Blues have done it!
They run out 34 point victors over Richmond, with two last quarter consolation goals saving the Tigers from an embarrassing scoreline.
Score: Richmond 2.2.(14) defeated by Carlton 6.12.(48)
Young gun Maddy Prespakis was everywhere in the contest, tallying 21 disposals and booting a goal despite copping a head knock early in the match.
Lauren Wood
Another injury concern for Carlton – runner and The Front Bar host Andy Maher (left) has done his calf!
He's cooked!
He's got treatment from the medicos, but he's out of action.
Arguably Richmond's biggest star Sabrina Frederick has booted the Tigers first ever AFLW goal – 3:54 into the final quarter!
And her teammates have gone absolute bananas.
The goal was a shining light to an otherwise bleak display so far, trailing the Blues by 31 points.
Richmond's kick their first... finally
Arguably Richmond's biggest star Sabrina Frederick has booted the Tigers first ever AFLW goal – 3:54 into the final quarter!
And her teammates have gone absolute bananas.
The goal was a shining light to an otherwise bleak display so far, trailing the Blues by 31 points.