IT DIDN'T matter what happened from midway through the third quarter on Friday night.

By then, there could have been a Carlton or Collingwood win, a late sellout – as it was, there were free seats in the Legends Stand all night – or a last-touch-out-of-bounds controversy. 

Match report: Blues salute in AFLW opener

But none of that would have stolen the AFLW spotlight from the Blues' blonde newcomer from Brisbane with the game's most aesthetically-pleasing kicking style.

Not even feisty Pie Sarah D'Arcy's report for kicking, although the zero second-half goals will be a talking point.

Darcy Vescio lit up Ikon Park on this night a year ago with her bagful of tricks and four goals, whereas this time it was her new teammate Tayla Harris' stunning aerial display that left mouths agape.

Carlton's recruitment of Harris in a complicated trade deal was the competition's greatest off-season heist, even factoring in the Blues nabbing Collingwood's reigning club champion, Nicola Stevens. 

Harris' 17 contested marks last year, as one of the Brisbane Lions' two marquee players, were six more than any other player and her star power is everything the League wants and needs. 

She was predictably and deservedly an All Australian, too. 

But there were teething problems, most notably the 20-year-old's goalkicking woes – only four of her 13 scoring shots last year were goals – and maddening inconsistency. 

Adelaide co-captain Chelsea Randall completely shut Harris out of the inaugural Grand Final, in what proved her final match as a Lion.

There was plenty for her to prove in Friday night's season opener on what is AFLW's second biggest stage, maybe even its biggest. 

Harris' rollicking contested grab barely beyond the goal square, then close-range finish, in the opening term introduced her to the Navy Blue army.

But by then she already had four disposals, three inside 50s and helped set up Carlton's first goal.

It only got better: an educated pass to Alison Downie – rather than blazing away from the boundary – that created the Blues' third major, then two equally brilliant contested marks in the third term.

Harris reached higher than everyone else to pluck the first before minutes later ferociously attacking the ball and clutching it ahead of her hapless rivals.

There was a reminder she wasn't perfect after the first of those, when she shanked her kick to the left for a behind from inside 20m. 

Down the other end, the much-hyped Mo Hope – trialled further afield but who still spent time in attack – dropped two difficult but gettable overhead marks inside 50 in a tense third quarter. 

Danielle Hardiman ensured Hope had little influence beyond those two moments as well. 

Every AFLW side wishes they had Harris, and the AFL's new head of women's football, Nicole Livingstone, will have everything crossed she repeats Friday night's dose on a weekly basis.

The final crowd of 19,852 did not require Gillon McLachlan to again sweet talk any disappointed patrons locked outside.

The true tale will be on what is to follow.

As Livingstone told AFL.com.au at Tuesday's AFLW season launch, the fans need to vote with their feet.

Harris has responsibility, too, to convince them to pack suburban grounds across the country – as do all her peers – and she made a fantastic start.