Darcy Vescio scores four goals as Carlton defeats Collingwood in inaugural AFLW match
DARCY Vescio stole the show, kicking four goals as Carlton defeated Collingwood in the inaugural AFLW match at Ikon Park.
A statement was made at Ikon Park on Friday night.
It started when Carlton captain Lauren Arnell ran through Magpie Brittany Bonnici at the opening ball-up.
It reached fever pitch when AFL chief Gillon McLachlan shut the gates. It left fans clambering over fences in a desperate bid to get a look.
It reached ‘peak Blues’ when Carlton marquee Darcy Vescio — gee, she turned heads — stalked a stoppage in the goalsquare, leapt for the ruck contest, stole the ball out of the air and hands of her opponents and kicked the goal upon landing.
It was her second of the night. The first came from a free kick awarded when a nervous Magpie defender monstered her as the dynamic Blue set herself to mark close to goal. .
DV has me covered! #class #AFLWBluesPies https://t.co/Kx9S9rKtiW
— Marc Murphy (@marcmurphy3) February 3, 2017
The Magpies knew that danger was ever present. Collingwood defender Nicola Stevens, usually a half-back who intercept marks and gives run, was sent into lockdown mode. It didn’t work.
Vescio’s third goal came after some brilliant work from teammate Sarah Last.
Last collected the ball in the centre and took off, charged through Collingwood captain Steph Chiocci, throwing her to the ground, and booted it long to where Vescio was prowling.
Vescio ran on to the ball, had a bounce and booted it from the goal square.
For her fourth, a loose ball dribbled her way 30m out from goal. Facing away from the square, she gathered, feinted right, providing a small but crucial gap between her and Stevens, and dribbled the ball across her body and through the goals.
A fifth goal could have come deep in the final quarter after a one-grab contested mark, but she passed off.
This was Vescio’s game. The 23-year-old who has been part of four flags at state-league level and won two best on ground gongs in those grand finals was being seen by many for the first time.
She fed off the crowd and showed her sublime skills and timing.
.
A star is born. @darcyvee ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
— Daniel Harford (@HarfSerious) February 3, 2017
“That was insane. Just the numbers, the crowd, the game, it was so fast and the girls did so well, really happy with that,” she said afterwards.
“I think we just played with a lot of freedom and brought in our strengths into the game and everyone just played a ripper and we played just as a team. It was unreal.
“The roar, we could hardly here anything out here. It was just amazing, hearing the crowd get up
and about and that is what it is all about. We just want people to come and watch us play and see what we create.”
The entire Blues outfit flourished and surged on the big stage. A 35-point win was the reward.
After conceding the first goal seven minutes in, Carlton swarmed the Magpies. They outnumbered them at the contest and then outran them.
They were more assured. More daring. As well as Vescio, Bri Davey was stunning.
The general down back, she worked forward and kicked a beauty to take the Blues’ lead out to 20 points. And the former Matildas goalkeeper loved it.
Think I've found my favourite Carlton womens player. @darcyvee you are a absolute gun. Going to love watching you play this season.
— Allison wilson (@Alwil81) February 3, 2017
Nat Exon was great in tight. Half-forward Bianca Jakobsson was great, marking strongly.
Skipper Arnell was hard and smart; when she slotted a left-foot snap from 30m to put the Blues in front she gave a fist pump to the crowd. Her crowd.
Collingwood forward Jess Cameron felt it. She had a shot from the city-end pocket and was booed by the Blues faithful.
There were repeat stoppages in the opening moments and things looked ominous. It was congested.
But by the time Gill had to shut the gate, the game had opened up.
From the winners rooms - that was UNREAL #AFLWBluesPies #aflw #changehergame pic.twitter.com/Gbu3Uy0pTc
— Kasey Symons (@kaseysymons) February 3, 2017
Chiocci kicked the first score in AFLW, a behind.
It was Magpie Jasmine Garner who scored the first goal. But that’s where Collingwood’s night ended.
Marquee forward Mo Hope was often double teamed and suffered from poor, and insufficient, delivery. She kicked just a single behind.
3. Darcy Vescio
2. Bri Davey
1. Jakobsson
Best: Vescio, Davey, Jakobsson, Exon, Arnell
Collingwood: D’Arcy, Chiocci, Barden, McIntosh, Eva
Originally published as Darcy Vescio scores four goals as Carlton defeats Collingwood in inaugural AFLW match
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