THE 2022 VFL Women’s season is almost here, so it is time to take a look at each of the competing teams and see where they sit as another season approaches. Today, Rookie Me Central takes a look at Carlton, who will be looking to make the next step in 2022.

In 2021, Carlton almost made the finals but fell oh so short.

After losing their first two matches of the season, the Blues finally got on the board in Round 3 with a win over Darebin. They then beat the Roos and Hawks before falling to the Pies and losing the next four, before beating the Dees and Cats. They then lost to the Saints before they beat Williamstown in the final round.

This saw Carlton ultimately finish in eighth place, but only a game out of the top six, so they came agonisingly close to making the finals.

They have a new coach at the helm this season, with former VFLW assistant Tom Stafford taking over from former head coach Luke O’Shannessy.

Stafford said he has really enjoyed the role thus far.

“I’ve loved it, I’ve been really welcomed by the club, he said. “The players and the support staff have been really welcoming. It’s a great environment to be a part of and I’m really looking forward to season 2022.”

Stafford has been really happy with how preseason went.

“It’s been a great preseason and everyone’s standing out, so the girls have worked really, really hard,” he said.

Despite claiming that everyone has been standing out, Stafford did mention a few Blues that have impressed on the track over the preseason, including the likes of Esther Honybun and Jorja Borg.

Skipper Ally Bild also mentioned that the likes of new recruits Thomay Nicolau and Maddi Di Cosmo had been performing very well on the track.

The Blues have several new players on board for 2022, including Nicolau, Di Cosmo, Lilly Goss, Vanessa Murphy and Jess Stramandinoli.

Bild is back at the helm as skipper again, ably aided by vice captains Jennifer Lew and Nicolaou. Bild reflected on last year and the frustrations that came along with it for the Blues.

“I think it’s bittersweet. We were able to kind of trooper through Covid and then we were unfortunate to miss out on the top six by one game which was really disappointing,” she said. “So, I think we take a lot of positives and negatives from them and we learn from them and we strive froward, but it was really good to get a season, albeit obviously with the climate that we’re in at the moment with Covid.”

Looking forward to season 2022, Carlton recently had two practice matches; one against the Falcons and one against Williamstown.

They won both of those matches comfortably, but will face much tougher competition in Round 1 when they come against Geelong.

Stafford is philosophical on what the ultimate goal for the Blues is this season.

“The ultimate goal for the year is to be the best side we can be and I really don’t want to put a ceiling on where we can finish,” he said. “I want to get the best out of the playing group as coach and (I’m) really excited to see where that takes us.”

Bild was philosophical in her response too.

“Everyone plays footy for success and I think it’s really easy to get blindsided by that and want all the success in the world,” she said. “Obviously everyone dreams of a premiership but for us, although it definitely is a premiership, any improvement from last year is a testament to the girls. As long as we’re improving on a trajectory that only goes up I think that’s a massive tick for us.”