In a thrilling kickoff to the AFLW season, Collingwood and Carlton faced off in a match filled with standout performances and contrasting emotions. The match was held at the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground. Players such as erone Fitzpatrick and our very own Mimi Hill put on expected, terrific performances but introduced themselves to a wider audience.
Mimi Hill continued her breakout season to be Carlton’s best, with 32 disposals and six clearances. Her individual performance was hard to look past though, with her 33 disposals, 11 more than teammate Brittany Bonnici in second place. Hill’s ability to control the midfield proved crucial in maintaining Carlton’s competitive edge throughout the match.
At the same time, Fitzpatrick was enjoying a triumphant return to the field after a lost year. 2023 was Fitzpatrick’s rookie season, after she missed the 2024 season with an ACL tear. She announced her comeback in style, with a sensational solo effort that demonstrated all her skills. She notched her second goal of the evening. This performance would further cement her status as a seemingly irreplaceable performer and the essential engine across the league.
It was Collingwood who opened the scoring early, with Sabrina Frederick, making her impact felt immediately, drawing first blood. Frederick outbodied Madeline Hendry to clunk a contested mark, giving her side a five-point lead at quarter-time. Her explosive start fueled the flame for what would become an extremely heated battle.
The tide turned in the ruck battle with the tandem of Breann Harrington and Jessica Good for Carlton able to neutralise their opponents effectively. Providing support to Harrington was Abbie McKay, whose work was crucial in keeping pressure on midfield and winning balls back.
Poppy Scholz was a standout in her debut to make an immediate impact. She undeniably possesses the talent to develop into a major contributor for the league.
Abbey Holmes shared thoughts about the wave of talent coming in from Gaelic football, saying,
“These Gaelic players that come into the game are so talented.”
By the second half of the game, Nick Riewoldt had a handle on Hill’s brilliance punctuated the game – writing, “
“She’s been the best player on the ground.”
