Blues barge into AFLW prelim after hammering Hawks
Steve Barrett |
Carlton will play their first AFLW preliminary final since 2019 after roaring to an emphatic 46-point win over Hawthorn.
The Blues were barely troubled in their 11.13 (79) to 4.9 (33) semi-final victory at Ikon Park on Saturday night, punching their ticket to a date with the Brisbane Lions next weekend at Brighton Homes Arena.
Mimi Hill and Madeleine Guerin were relentless at the contest, while the McKay sisters sparkled, Abbie through the midfield and Sophie (three goals) in attack.
The verdict was virtually decided by quarter-time, at the end of which Carlton had stormed ahead 4.7 to 0.0.
Despite their inaccuracy, the Blues’ quarter-time score and margin were both new AFLW finals records.
Paced by Hill through the middle, and Harriet Cordner intercepting behind the ball, Carlton enjoyed massive advantages in virtually every category, notably inside-50s (18-3), marks (20-6), marks inside-50 (8-0) and centre clearances (5-0).
Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster had some stern words to say to his charges on the back of their fifth successive goalless term – after being held to 0.3 by North Melbourne last week – and they rallied admirably.
Piggybacked by Eliza West, the Hawks turned the tables to dominate centre clearances (4-1) and inside-50s (17-3) in the second period to trim the gap to 27 points, the vast majority of play again contained to the Garton Street end.
West’s evening ended with a concussion thanks to an accidental ball to the head from teammate Tilly Lucas-Rodd’s kick early in the second half.
Following the departure of their best player, Hawthorn wilted.
The Baggers did as they pleased in the third stanza, highlighted by Dayna Finn’s back-to-back goals as the margin ballooned to 52 points at three-quarter-time.
Sophie McKay followed her third goal with a trademark celebration in the fourth before Hawthorn pinched two consolation majors.
The Hawks, who had Emily Everist (concussion) and Kaitlyn Ashmore (calf) sidelined, and Jasmine Garner (calf) hobbled, have yet to win an AFLW final after crashing to their second successive straight-sets exit.
AAP
