THE 2022 AFLW season is almost upon us, so it’s time to take a look at each of the competing teams and see where they sit as we head into another season.
Today we will take a look at Carlton, who just missed out on finals in 2021.
Carlton had a year of so close, yet so far in 2021. The Blues were so close to making finals, but just missed out. They were a strong contender to make final, but after losing to Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Fremantle by a combined 16 points, they just missed out. The off season was what some may describe as rather messy for Carlton though.
Their trade period was very active, and not all for a good reason. They lost five of their top 21 players for not a whole lot. Tayla Harris, Jess Hosking and Chloe Dalton were all traded to other clubs, while Alison Downie and Katie Loynes were essentially just able to walk free to Collingwood and GWS respectively.
They did bring in Jessica Dal Pos though, which is a huge win for the Blues as she returns home to Victoria.
The question for Carlton coming into 2022 will be how to they cover all this talent and experience that they did lose, and how do they avoid what happened last season and actually make finals this time around.
They certainly have the talent still there to do it. The 2021 AFLW leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio is still around and will always be a headache for opposition defenders. Also, the vastly experienced Elise O’Dea, Kerryn Harrington and Nicola Stevens are still there, and their experience will be crucial in helping this young Carlton side rise back up the ladder.
They have also recruited very well. Alongside Dal Pos, their draftees will be ones to watch this season. Imogen Milford in particular is a great pickup, having starred for Casey in the VFLW this season. Throw in some outstanding young talents in Geelong Falcons’ Annie Lee, Eastern Ranges’ Keeley Sherar and Oakleigh Chargers’ Brooke Vickers – and then later on Lee’s Falcons’ teammate Poppy Schaap – and the Blues are begining to rebuild, whilst still having experience
Carlton certainly do not have an easy season ahead of them, and if it make finals the Blues will have certainly earned it.
They have a tough first half of the season in particular. They play Collingwood, Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, and North, before contending with the Crows and then Fremantle. Where they sit at about halfway through the season will certainly tell a lot about where the Blues really do sit in the pack. If they’ve beaten at least a few of those top sides, things are definitely looking up for the Blues.
2022 squad:
- Lauren Brazzale
- Jess Dal Pos
- Grace Egan
- Georgia Gee
- Jess Good
- Maddy Guerin
- Charlotte Hammans
- Kerryn Harrington
- Mimi Hill
- Courtney Jones
- Mua Laloifi
- Annie Lee
- Lucy McEvoy
- Abbie McKay
- Imogen Milford
- Breann Moody
- Elise O’Dea
- Nat Plane
- Gab Pound
- Madison Prespakis
- Poppy Schaap
- Keeley Sherar
- Nicola Stevens
- Paige Trudgeon
- Brooke Vernon
- Darcy Vescio
- Brooke Vickers
- Brooke Walker
- Daisy Walker
- Charlotte Wilson
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