Carlton won on the scoreboard, but the big winner was women’s football after the AFLW competition made a stunning debut on Friday night.
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The Blues defeated Collingwood by 35 points in front of a packed house of more than 24,000 fans at IKON Park.
More than 1000 people were turned away from the game after AFL officials and police decided the venue couldn’t hold any more spectators.
On the field, Collingwood kicked the first goal of the game through Jasmine Garner, but Carlton kicked the next seven as it cruised to a 7.4 (46) to 1.5 (11) win.
“The roar was amazing, we couldn’t hear anything out there,’’ Carlton star Darcy Vescio, who kicked four goals, said.
It was a mixed night for Bendigo Thunder’s representatives.
Bella Ayre, Jess Kennedy and Sarah Last basked in the glory of Carlton’s win, while Collingwood’s Emma Grant was forced from the ground in the second quarter after suffering a knock to the head and she didn’t return to action.
Last had the most impact of the Thunder quartet. The talented defender had five kicks and four handballs and helped set up a Blues goal in the first half. Kennedy had eight possessions and Ayre one, while Grant had two kicks and one handball before leaving the ground.
