Blues start AFLW season with 26-point win over Saints
Carlton has held off a St Kilda fightback to claim the opening win of the new AFLW season by 26 points in an entertaining game that made a case for more double header fixtures.
The Carlton Blues commenced the 2026 AFLW season with a dominant 26-point victory over St Kilda Saints. Early on, Carlton established a 31-point lead before St Kilda mounted a spirited comeback. The Blues maintained their advantage, scoring late goals to secure a 9.12 (66) to 6.4 (40) triumph. The match, held at Docklands Stadium, attracted several thousand spectators, with the crowd exceeding 20,000 midway through the fourth quarter.
Despite missing key players like Sophie McKay (calf), Keeley Sherar (quad), and Lauren Bella (calf) due to injury, Carlton dominated the game. Their midfield showed exceptional control, while skipper Abbie McKay (32 disposals, nine clearances) and Mimi Hill (28 disposals) contributed significantly. Claudia Whitfort, a recruited player, and Dayna Finn also played pivotal roles, collecting a high number of touches.
Young player Poppy Scholz was instrumental in opening the scoring and maintained a constant threat with her speed and skill. Despite St Kilda's best efforts, they couldn't close the gap, which widened to 23 points at the three-quarter mark. Georgia Patrikios and Amber Clarke provided crucial support for St Kilda, scoring two goals on the run.
The Saints managed to reduce the deficit to 11 points late in the game, but Carlton's Darcy Vescio sealed the win with a late goal. St Kilda's J Noemi Anderson suffered a hamstring injury during the match.
Next, Carlton will face Adelaide at Princes Park, while St Kilda will travel to Geelong for their next match.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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