Both of Carlton’s goals came from other 50–gamers,midfielder Jessica Dal Pos and ruck Breann Moody,who also finished with 21 hitouts and three marks.
Port Adelaide captain and star Erin Phillips told Fox Footy after the game she was proud of what the new side was building.
“In the two previous games,our momentum was getting there and our game was getting there. It’s disappointing we couldn’t get over the line but it’s definitely progress,” she said.
The Power’s draftee Hannah Ewings was productive in the midfield,leading the disposal count for her side at 21,including 18 kicks and five clearances. The 18-year-old was supported in driving the ball forward by fellow youngster Abbey Dowrick,who finished the game with 14 disposals,three tackles and three clearances.
Veteran Ange Foley also had a brilliant game,applying pressure,using her speed to break away and providing on-field leadership for the young side.
For Carlton,ever-reliable onballer Mimi Hill was integral at the engine room,while Abbie McKay,Peterson and Vaomua Laloifi all had defensive work that kept the Power from running away with it after the second quarter.
Maria Moloney’s goal was a particularly nice moment for fans. Over the past three seasons,the 27-year-old was a mainstay of the emergency spot at Brisbane – their depth denying any room for the inside midfielder – before being signed by the Power,where she sees game time and is an integral part of their midfield unit.
Notably,the Blues were without midfielder Maddy Guerin,who went down with a knee injury at the start of the game.
CARLTON: 2.1 2.1 3.1 4.3 (27)
PORT ADELAIDE: 0.1 4.2 4.3 4.3 (27)
GOALS
Carlton: Dal Pos,Moody,O’Dea,Peterson
Port Adelaide: De Melo 2,Levicki,Moloney
BEST
Carlton: Peterson,Hill,McKay,Laloifi,Moody
Port Adelaide: Ewings,Foley,Dowrick,Phillips,Moloney
Elsewhere,Melbourne downed St Kilda after a six-goal first term on the way to a 26-point win on Sunday.
The Demons,rebranded as Narrm for the women’s Indigenous round,kicked all their goals in the opening quarter and won 6.10 (46) to 3.2 (20) at Moorabbin.
Melbourne’s Olivia Purcell had a game-high 27 disposals,equalling her AFLW best,while Eden Zanker kicked two goals for the Demons. Tall forward Kate Shierlaw shone for the Saints with two goals.
And a triple treat from midfield marvel Monique Conti propelled Richmond to a breakthrough 35-point victory against Hawthorn.
Conti kicked three goals in a stand-out display to help the Tigers bank their first triumph of the season,thrashing the Hawks 7.2 (44) to 1.3 (9) on Sunday.
Hawthorn remain winless in their inaugural AFLW season,but Richmond are now just two premiership points shy of eighth spot.
Essendon ruck Stephanie Wales put on a first-half masterclass to help lift her side to a crushing 52-point win over West Coast at Mineral Resources Park. The Bombers booted the opening nine goals of Sunday’s match on the way to the 13.6 (84) to 4.8 (32) win.
Wales was the key cog in the early onslaught,booting three goals in the first half to set the tone.
Essendon’s first-half of 9.4 (58) was the highest in AFLW history,beating Adelaide’s 9.2 (56) from their 2019 grand final win over Carlton.
With AAP
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