AFLW 2024: Carlton star Darcy Vescio signs two-year contract extension

Carlton’s best ever AFLW player is likely to finish their career at the club after signing a major contract extension ahead of the season.

Carlton star Darcy Vescio has penned a two-year contract extension in a major coup for the Blues on the eve of the AFLW season.

The club’s games and goals record holder will remain at Ikon Park until at least the end of 2026 after giving strong approval to the new direction of Carlton’s women’s program.

Poised to start afresh as a specialist winger in 2024, Vescio said second-year coach Mathew Buck had given the Blues strong optimism they could bounce back up the ladder after missing the finals in four consecutive seasons.

Vescio, 31, said it had always been their intention to be a Blue for life despite a turbulent period which included a major overhaul of the program before last season.

“I always wanted to keep playing here – I think it was more just the timing to make sure the club was happy to keep me around,” Vescio told this masthead.

“I’ve had a really good pre-season, which put me in the position to sign a multi-year deal … I’m really excited about where we are right now and I’m pumped to be extending.”

Carlton star Darcy Vescio has penned a contract extension which will keep the Blues’ games and goals record holder at Ikon Park until the end of 2026. Picture: Michael Klein

Vescio has played forward almost their entire career after joining Carlton as the club’s marquee signing ahead of the first AFLW season.

But the Blues star said a move to the wing had “reinvigorated football for me”.

“It’s been really freeing for me, having Bucky (coach Mathew Buck) see me in a different position,” Vescio said.

“It’s challenged me to think differently about footy and sort of push my capacity as an athlete as well … it’s really fun, because obviously you’ve got an opponent, but you’re also playing your own game as well.”

Carlton skipper Kerryn Peterson said Vescio’s aerobic fitness had increased “enormously” from last season and the Blues would benefit heavily from having one of their best ball-users playing higher up the ground.

“Probably Darcy’s biggest strength is the ability to find a teammate by foot – their kick is as good as anyone in the competition, so for us, it’s about having great ball-users on the wing,” Peterson said.

Vescio is set to spend the majority of games on the wing this season after playing as a key forward in all eight seasons of the competition. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“They’re not going to have a defender hanging off them like they would in the past playing up forward.

“Darcy’s tank has grown enormously, in terms of their capacity to run, so the ability for them to get back and defend and then to be able to challenge forward is something that we’re really excited to see.”

Vescio said the Blues’ trust in each other had improved under Buck and they accepted there would be “continual evolution” over 2024 as the coach continued to move the magnets.

“(Buck’s) professionalism has been unreal and just pushing us all to grow at footy … his ability to see my skill set and understand how it could be applied to different positions has been amazing,” Vescio said.

“He hasn’t been in women’s football for very long, so I guess he’s brought this fresh perspective and a sense that there’s no real limitations on what we’re able to do.

“I think if you’re part of a certain system for too long, you end up feeling like you have to work in certain confines or believe certain things, but he’s given us a new system and can tap those personal relationships to make everyone feel like they’re part of it.”