The history of the AFL Women’s competition began in no quiet fashion on Friday night with the Carlton Blues putting in a dominant performance over the Collingwood Magpies at Ikon Park.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Carlton Blues 7.4.46
Collingwood Magpies 1.5.11
The Carlton Blues and Collingwood Magpies will make history tonight when they meet in the first match of the inaugural AFL Women’s competition. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
It’s a brave new world tonight – we’re breaking new ground here and in many ways we’re going in a bit blind.
We’ve seen a lot of these players in action in exhibition games over the past few seasons, but we’ve not seen what they’ll be like in these combinations and under their new coaches.
That’s pretty exciting really – different teams have been tossed up as favourites here or there but the truth is, more than usual, anything could happen.
The player to watch tonight in my book is Moana Hope – going into this competition she’s regarded as the best forward in the mix, and it’s going to be great to watch her on the big stage.
With a knack for kicking team-lifting goals, and enough tattoos to qualify for Collingwood life membership, she’s a cult figure in the making.
On the other side of the divide, make sure to watch full forward Darcy Vescio for Carlton. She’s an experienced goalkicker who has won three premierships with the Darebin Falcons.
There’s two important rules to remember for those watching tonight – each team will play with 16 on field and six on the bench, and quarters will go for 15 minutes and time on.
Prediction
Without having seen either team play at the top level just yet it’s hard to make anything more than an educated guess, but my reading is that Collingwood have just a little more star power in their side and that might get them across the line.
Collingwood Magpies by 12 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:45pm AEDT.
Maggie
Guest
Lol, yes I heard that too, and also laughed!
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Thoroughly enjoyed the game and any time Carlton beat Collingwood is even more special. Scrappy early but that was to be expected with nerves but once the game opened up the ladies displayed some good skills. Darcy Vescio needs to get down to the men's training and pass on some tips - very impressive. My chuckle for the night was when the umpire paid a free kick for 'holding the man'. Maybe they need to change that to 'holding the woman'.
Josh
Expert
Have a read of the full match report here. Thanks everybody for joining me here on The Roar tonight - great night for history, great night for football!
Slane
Guest
Great game of footy. That was a fantastic spectacle. You could see that Carlton were a few notches above the Pies tonight. They were definitely the more professional/well-drilled team. What a time to be alive!
Maggie
Guest
Some seriously good football by Carlton. Very impressive defence line, not afraid to attack tne ball and clear it out of danger. And then Darcy Vescio, just brilliant. I think Carlton fans have some joyful days ahead.
Josh
Expert
Carlton the dominant winners in tonight's historic first AFL Women's match. Darcy Vescio booted four sensational goals, and Ikon Park was packed to the rafters. Full match report coming soon.
Josh
Expert
FULL TIME Carlton 7.4.46 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
GOAL CARLTON With a set shot on goal Bianca Jakobsson sinks her first goal, and the Blues are absolutely flying. Carlton 7.4.46 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
BEHIND CARLTON Almost a fifth from Darcy Vescio, but under pressure in the pocket she can't quite work the angle. Carlton 6.4.40 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
BEHIND CARLTON Lauren Arnell has a set shot on goal from the pocket, unfortunately it doesn't swing around enough and misses to the far side. Carlton 6.3.39 Collingwood 1.5.11
Penster
Roar Guru
Agree Cat. It started scratchy and there's some ordinary skills but it's a solid start, nerves settling as they warm into it. Congrats blogging the first AFLW for The Roar Josh!
Josh
Expert
BEHIND CARLTON Bianca Jakobsson with a set shot on goal, unfortunately her kick just falls a little short and spills off the pack for a behind. Carlton 6.2.38 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
Final quarter underway.
Josh
Expert
Blues just extending their dominance in that third term with two great goals, both from exciting passages of play and showing som real skills. Darcy Vescio has four to her name - two-thirds of all the goals in the game have come from her boot. Leading by 20 at the final change, can't see Carlton losing from here.
Cat
Roar Guru
It's the Darcy Vescio show!
Maggie
Guest
Darcy Vescio! What a super star!
Josh
Expert
3-QUARTER TIME Carlton 5.1.31 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
GOAL CARLTON DARCY VESCIO!! A snap out of nowhere and it bounces through for goal number FOUR! Incredible. She is a superstar. Carlton 6.1.37 Collingwood 1.5.11
Josh
Expert
Josh
Expert
GOAL CARLTON Ripping goal from the Blues, they create something out of nothing from a pack on the boundary and then Brianna Davey is the one who finishes it off. Carlton 5.1.31 Collingwood 1.5.11