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 Blues made the preliminary final last season and entered 2026 with high expectations.
Carlton led by as much as 31 points but withstood a fourth-quarter comeback from St Kilda before sealing the 9.12 (66) to 6.4 (40) victory.
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Sunday’s game was held at Docklands Stadium ahead of the men’s AFL clash as one of five double headers this season.
The concept already appears a winner and will prompt calls for more alignment with the men’s season.
Several thousand fans were in for the start of the game, with the crowd ticking over 10,000 just after half-time and reaching 20,455 when the attendance was officially counted in the fourth quarter.
Despite missing young dynamo Sophie McKay (calf), best and fairest winner Keeley Sherar (quad) and ruck recruit Lauren Bella (calf) through injury, the Blues were on top early.
The Saints couldn’t capitalise on early centre clearance dominance and were swamped by Carlton’s classy midfield.
Skipper Abbie McKay (32 disposals, nine clearances), Mimi Hill (28 disposals), Lila Keck (21 disposals, two goals) recruit Claudia Whitfort (27 touches) and Irish star Dayna Finn (22 disposals) collected plenty of the ball, while Lily Goss kicked two goals.
Young gun Poppy Scholz was the fire starter, brushing off a defender to kick the first goal, kicking 1.4 and appearing a constant threat with her athleticism and smarts.
Scholz’s opener started a run of four straight Carlton goals.
Tyanna Smith was comfortably St Kilda’s best, racking up 625 metres gained, eight clearances, 19 disposals and two terrific goals on the run, with support from Georgia Patrikios (27 disposals)
Amber Clarke provided a spark with two superb fourth-quarter goals.
Overwhelmed by Carlton’s running power early, the Saints got a foothold in the game when recruit Sophie Butterworth nailed their first goal.
St Kilda smashed Carlton around the ball in the third term and cut the deficit to 23 at three-quarter time.
Clarke soccered through a wonderful skidding goal from a tight angle to spark St Kilda just 27 seconds into the final term, then snapped another to cut the lead to 11.
But Darcy Vescio’s second goal put a dagger in St Kilda’s hearts late on before Keck sealed the deal.
St Kilda’s J’Noemi Anderson suffered a hamstring injury.
Mathew Buck’s Carlton next host Adelaide at Princes Park while Nick Dal Santo’s St Kilda travel to Geelong.
AAP
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