Sydney recruit Lucy McEvoy on why Carlton’s off-season issues helped her departure

An emerging AFLW talent, Lucy McEvoy stepped out of Carlton for Sydney this month thank in part to the Blues’ off-season disasters.

Lucy McEvoy couldn’t see where Carlton was headed. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

A lack of cohesion and clear direction at Carlton helped Lucy McEvoy leap on a chance to move interstate and join AFLW expansion side Sydney.

The former Geelong Falcons skipper signed a four-year deal with the Swans during the league’s priority signing period, where expansion sides were able to snap up players from established clubs for nothing.

Lucy McEvoy in her new Sydney colours.

After being taken with the No.2 pick in the 2019 AFLW draft, McEvoy played 33 games for the Blues and the 21-year-old appeared a firm part of the club’s future.

But with coach Daniel Harford and head of footy Brett Munro pushed out after an external review, McEvoy found herself looking around unsure where Carlton was headed.

In contract, Sydney mapped out a concrete plan to become the first expansion side to win an AFLW premiership and McEvoy, who had interest from a handful of clubs, was keen to move interstate to start her next football chapter.

Lucy McEvoy fires a handball. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Prezioso

“I obviously spent four seasons at Carlton and I loved my time at Carlton and it was a great place to play football,” she said.

“But I was also after a fresh start and obviously Carlton have had their rough patches in the women’s program over the last couple of seasons and we sort of lacked some direction and I am the type of person that needs to know what I am getting in to and signing up for.

“Sydney were able to give me a bit of direction about the grand plan I suppose and unfortunately it was just the time at Carlton where I couldn’t get those answers really.”

When Sydney showed interest, McEvoy “tossed and turned” but a tour in the Harbour City sold her on where her new club is headed.

The Swans also landed Collingwood star Chloe Malloy through the signing period as they eye a climb after a winless first season in 2022.

“They understand where they are in terms of where they sit in the at the moment and they are not shying away from wanting to improve really quickly,” McEvoy said.

“The players I have spoken to are all on board and wanting to get better every day and that is all you can ask for and that comes from the top down. Tom Harley (Sydney chief executive), I am really impressed with how involved he is with the women’s program and that speaks for itself.”

A beach lover after growing up in Wallington, McEvoy said she was keen to slip into one of Sydney’s eastern suburbs as she finds her new home.

Originally published as Sydney recruit Lucy McEvoy on why Carlton’s off-season issues helped her departure