CARLTON has its NAB AFLW season off and running after a hard-earned win against a gallant Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
The more-experienced Blues were pushed to the limit by the eager Cats before winning by 14 points, 4.7 (31) to 2.5 (17) in a defence-dominated contest on Saturday night.
The second-round win provided Carlton midfield gun Maddy Prespakis with family bragging rights over younger sister Georgie, the Cats' No.2 pick in last season's NAB AFLW Draft.
Both were valuable contributors to their teams, with Maddy, the 2020 AFLW best and fairest winner, racking up 29 possessions and Georgie - at 18 three years younger - working hard for her 15 disposals before being forced off under the blood rule after a knock to the face in the last quarter.
It was the first time two sisters have played against each other in an AFLW game and the second time Maddy has thwarted the Cats - she ran up 28 disposals and a key goal in the Blues' win in the corresponding clash last season.
Their parents made the three-hour trip from home town Echuca on the Murray River for the the historic family football reunion.
The pair were involved in several midfield contests and Maddy gently chided Georgie over one of them.
CATS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats
"We both left Thursday morning to go to training and said good luck to each other. It's just the best," said Maddy.
"She tried to sell me a bit of candy (baulk), but didn't finish with a goal, so she has to work on that a bit."
Carlton captain Kerryn Harrington was brilliant with 23 possessions, marshalling the defence with able assistance from Gaby Pound to nullify Geelong's scoring opportunities.
Geelong skipper Meg McDonald held Blues sharpshooter and AFLW leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio scoreless, but the Blues found enough options to continually edge ahead in the dour battle.
It was an intriguing tactical battle between coaches Daniel Harford (Carlton) and Dan Lowther (Geelong) with the former placing a spare player in defence and conceding midfield dominance to the home team.
Geelong played with plenty of energy at the contests, but was continually turned back despite dominating possession, particularly in the opening quarter.
The Cats rarely found a way past the reliable Harrington who mopped up so many ground balls inside the Blues' defensive half.
GEELONG 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.5 (17)
CARLTON 1.0 2.2 3.4 4.7 (31)
GOALS
Geelong: Kearns, McWilliams
Carlton: O'Dea, Stevens, Jones, Gee
BEST
Geelong: A.McDonald, Webster, Darby, Ivey, McWilliams
Carlton: Prespakis, Harrington, Gee, Moody McEvoy
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Carlton: Walker (illness) replaced in selected side by Hammans
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2,144 at GMHBA Stadium
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