Carlton AFLW player profiles for season 2017
ALMOST 30 years ago pop icon Madonna exhorted women around the globe to Express Yourself and Carlton is taking the same attitude into the AFLW. EVERY PLAYER
ALMOST 30 years ago pop icon Madonna exhorted women around the globe to Express Yourself and Carlton is taking the same attitude into the AFLW.
Blues coach Damien Keeping has empowered his fresh-faced charges to play with freedom and to each individual’s strengths. He hopes it will lead to an open, exciting brand of football.
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That wasn’t the style on show in the first half of their dress rehearsal against Melbourne, which was congested and stop-start.
But Keeping is confident that, as his players continue to develop their skill, game sense and familiarity with teammates, fluid ball movement will follow.
“Once that kicks in, I think the evolution will find a balance between defence and attack,” he said.
“It’s a high turnover game, but I think that comes back to the ball movement as much as the defence of any team.”
Carlton has done a lot of work on kicking and decision-making under pressure. It appears these will be the pillars of any strong team in season one.
The Blues’ game will be built around marquee halfback Bri Davey and for good reason.
Her international-standard soccer goalkeeping skills mean she has outstanding vision, and she has the skills to back it up.
She’ll bullock her way through the midfield and won’t be brought to ground by many.
“Primarily she’s a defender and I think she’s one of the best defenders in Australia,” Keeping said.
“She’s able to play on tall or small opponents down deep and she’s excited about learning the roles across other parts of the ground.”
Sarah Hosking will break out of the midfield and burn off opponents. Young and inexperienced, she’s more used to the netball court than the football field.
“She’s an outside mid that can go inside and be effective,” Keeping said. “She’s got speed and her decision-making is improving the more experience she gets. She’s one that we’re excited about.”
Danielle Hardiman will play a key role in defence.
“She reads the play exceptionally well and is able to impact against her own opponent and then come off and assist teammates,” Keeping said.
Then there’s mercurial forward Darcy Vescio. Almost laconic away from the ball, her acrobatic grabs are a trademark.
“We all know what she’s going to do; well, I hope she’s going to do what we all think she’s going to do,” Keeping said.
Carlton has versatility. Hosking, Nat Exon, a middle-distance runner new to the game, and Natalie Plane, strong in the contest but with outside run, are good examples.
“Nat Plane has been incredible in the balance she’s been able to strike between her (WBBL) Renegades commitments and her commitment to our team,” Keeping said.
“She’s already shown that she’s got a great ability to run and carry and break through lines and she has an effective kick. She’s another one to watch out for.”
Carlton’s recruiting was unorthodox in some ways. It has four players from Bendigo, including inexperienced defender Sarah Last, 18-year-old key forward Bella Ayre and speedy midfielder Jess Kennedy.
It also selected tall defender Kate Darby, who hasn’t played footy in about 12 years.
And the Blues signed Hosking’s twin Jess even though she won’t play this season because of a knee injury. They will have her ready to go next year.
“This first list needs to sustain the club for an extended period of time,” Keeping said.
But in the short term, over the eight weeks of this debut season, the Blues have no intention of settling for second best.
CARLTON AFLW PLAYER PROFILES:
Coach — Damien Keeping
Was at the helm of the Western Bulldogs for last year’s exhibition game against Melbourne and has experience at TAC Cup level with Calder Cannons in addition to holding other senior women’s coaching roles
1 Brianna Davey
Age: 22 Hgt: 175cm
Defender/midfielder
Marquee player and hard to miss. She’s tall, she’s strong and she’s skilled. Breaks from the backline and can move into the midfield with ease. Former Matildas national soccer team goalkeeper.
2 Katie Loynes
Age: 30 Hgt: 169cm
Midfielder
Highly-rated onballer who is on the comeback trial from a knee injury. Stalwart from the Diamond Creek club.
3 Darcy Vescio
Age: 23 Hgt: 167cm
Forward
High-flying Vescio is Carlton’s second marquee. Electryfing leap and just as dangerous on the ground; even if quiet can bob up with killer effect. Best afield for Darebin in last year’s VFL Women’s grand final.
4 Madeline Keryk
Age: 21 Hgt: 169cm
Midfielder
Hard-running inside player from Melbourne Uni team who makes herself known at stoppages. Can also move up forward, creating an awkward match-up for the opposition.
5 Kate Gillespie-Jones
Age: 25 Hgt: 179cm
Ruck/forward
Prides herself on her ability to cover the ground, as well as providing an option forward. Strong mark and bursts through packs.
6 Gabriella Pound
Age: 22 Hgt: 166cm
Forward
Top kick and exceptional decision-maker who can also play in defence. Graduate of the strong Melbourne Uni team, which was second in the VFL Women’s comp last season.
7 Sarah Last
Age: 20 Hgt: 172cm
Defender
Strong season for Bendigo last season put Last on the draft radar. Has played a lot of basketball and netball, which might explain her ability to read the ball well in flight.
8 Kate Darby
Age: 26 Hgt: 180cm
Forward/defender
A natural athlete who before the draft hadn’t played competitively since junior games with boys. Height and strength are impressive and seen as an option at either end of the ground.
9 Rebecca Privitelli
Age: 22 Hgt: 169cm
Defender
Product of the Eastern Devils club who is not afraid to leave her player. Backs her judgment and with good versatility can be thrown around the ground.
10 Sarah Hosking
Age: 21 Hgt: 164cm
Midfielder
Hails from an elite netball background but has developed quickly in just six months. Great dash as demonstrated in the first practice game against Melbourne.
11 Jessica Hosking
Age: 21 Hgt: 164cm
Midfielder
Same surname as No.10, same mother and father, same birthday. Sarah’s twin is recovering from a knee injury and won’t be seen in AFLW01, but is regarded as a player of the future.
12 Lauren Brazzale
Age: 23 Hgt: 163cm
Midfielder
From the Diamond Creek club, an exciting onballer with the ability to kick goals — bagged seven in a half in one game at the Australian University Games four years ago.
13 Lauren Arnell (capt)
Age: 29 Hgt: 169cm
Midfielder
Eight-time premiership player with Darebin, snared by Carlton as a priority signing and popular choice as captain. Six-time All-Australian onballer who kicks goals.
14 Laura Attard
Age: 30 Hgt: 168cm
Defender
Old-style defender from the Diamond Creek outfit who can play tall and short.
15 Nat Exon
Age: 24 Hgt: 162cm
Midfielder
Played in Darebin Falcons’ premiership team last season after taking a break from top-line football. Serious runner and good kick.
16 Breann Moody
Age: 19 Hgt: 180cm
Ruck
Came along in leaps and bounds for Cranbourne last season and is versatile into the bargain. Overhead marking is a key strength of this daughter of former racehorse trainer Peter Moody.
18 Tilly Lucas-Rodd
Age: 20 Hgt: 160cm
Midfielder
Has stepped up to senior football with St Kilda Sharks with aplomb and can be expected to continue making improvement.
22 Bella Ayre
Age: 18 Hgt: 176cm
Forward
Key position player from Bendigo who takes a strong mark. Workrate and endurance have impressed in her limited exposure to senior ranks.
23 Jess Kennedy
Age: 26 Hgt: 165cm
Midfielder
Has pace to burn; won last year’s best and fairest at VWFL side Bendigo Thunder.
25 Kate Shierlaw
Age: 27 Hgt: 186cm
Ruck/forward
Tallest player on the Blues’ list and effectively recruited from England where she was playing for Wimbledon Hawks in the AFL London Women’s League. As a recent convert won the Hawks’ best and fairest, highlighting her potential.
26 Shae Audley
Age: 28 Hgt: 160cm
Midfielder
Diminutive in-and-under onballer not daunted by the size of opponents — particularly enjoys tackling.
27 Alison Brown
Age: 19 Hgt: 179cm
Midfielder
Speculative acquisition by the Blues; hails from a basketball background and was recruited as a free agent. Green but promising with an impressive vertical jump.
30 Alison Downie
Age: 32 Hgt: 188cm
Ruck
Performances for Diamond Valley earned selection in VFL Women’s Team of the Year last season; noted for her precision tap work.
31 Danielle Hardiman
Age: 22 Hgt: 175cm
Defender
Hails from Cranbourne and seen by the Blues as a good user of the ball and skilled reader of the play. Coming off an injury-hampered year.
32 Natalie Plane
Age: 20 Hgt: 168cm
Midfielder
Dual-sport performer having turned out for Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL. Has made her name with the oval ball at the Seaford club.
33 Hayley Trevean
Age: 28 Hgt: 167cm
Forward
Mid-sized forward from the Bendigo Thunder taken as a free agent; noted for her doggedness.
35 Bianca Jakobsson
Age: 23 Hgt: 174cm
Forward
Taken high in the draft (pick No.3), Jakobsson is regarded as a top-flight forward. Smart and skilful, she hails from Cranbourne in the VFL Women’s league.
Originally published as Carlton AFLW player profiles for season 2017