Carlton aiming to resurface
CARLTON star Darcy Vescio says the acquisition of Daniel Harford as coach has already helped refresh the team after a disappointing finish to the 2018 season.
Harford’s appointment came after Carlton finished last in the second year of the AFLW, which left many at Ikon Park frustrated following its fourth place finish in the inaugural season. But Vescio said the collection of new faces and fresh voices on the training track had helped reignite a spark for the Blues, who lost the last five games this year to claim the wooden spoon.
“I have really been enjoying it (Harford’s coaching) so far,” Vescio said.
“It is always good getting to know a new coach and having someone with fresh eyes over everyone. Everyone sees things dif- ferently and I have really enjoyed his style — he is very direct and is all about doing rather than talking, so he loves to get us out and practising.
“I would like to think that one of our advantages in season three is that our core group of girls have been together for three seasons now, so I hope that puts us in a really good position to bring the new girls in quickly and get them playing well.”
Carlton spent the weekend in Queenscliff on a training camp, which Vescio said came at an ideal time before the squad departs for the Christmas break.
The gifted forward pointed to the rise of the Western Bulldogs from sixth to premiers this year as the blueprint for how the Blues would look to attack next season.
“The whole team and all of the coaches were really disappointed in how we finished last season and nothing really went to plan so to have a new coach come in and swing things around, the girls are seeing it as a fresh start,” she said.
“It feels like a while ago now, and we have had a VWFL season in between and people have had time to process how the season went and what went wrong.
“But now it is about looking forward and understanding that last season doesn’t define this season.
“We saw how the Bulldogs responded to finishing down the bottom and anyone can do that, so that is what we are looking to do.”