AFLW: 'It was rough' - but Blues enjoy the spoils on history-making night
Carlton's goal-kicking star Darcy Vescio is confident the Blues – and the wider AFLW – will have the depth to cover injuries after a "rough" start to the inaugural season.
The morning after the biggest match of her life, Vescio said on Saturday she was still "buzzing" after the Blues claimed a historic win before of a sell-out crowd.
On a night when police and the AFL declared the match a lock-out midway through the first term, leaving thousands unable to get into Ikon Park, it was Vescio, a marquee signing, who produced four goals to lead her side to a 35-point victory against a disappointing Collingwood.
There were several major hits through the night, with both sides assessing their casualty ward on Saturday before round two.
Darcy Vescio of the Blues.Credit:Michael Dodge
"It was very rough, heaps of big clashes, I am pretty sore this morning but that's footy. The first game always feels like the roughest because your body is not used to it. Hopefully, it's all right from here on in," Vescio said.
The Blues had Natalie Plane (ankle) and the dominant Nat Exon (corked thigh) hurt while the Pies, who managed only the one goal, which came in the first term, had two concussion victims – Emma Grant and Steph Chiocci – while Helen Roden and Stacey Livingstone (shoulder) are also in doubt for next week.
The Blues now prepare to host Greater Western Sydney on Saturday evening, while the Pies are due to host Melbourne at Olympic Park on Saturday night, although that clash could also be shifted to Ikon Park to allow more people to watch.
The challenge for the Pies and Blues, should injuries force team changes, is to maintain a strong standard.
"The girls are not used to having this much support stuff and having physios and doctors and everything like that. Injuries that might usually set people back a few weeks, they might be all right with it," Vescio said.
Where she once may have been a doubter herself, Vescio was still coming to grips with how popular the inaugural AFLW match had been – in terms of attendance and through strong broadcast ratings.
"It feels unreal. I think I am still buzzing from last night. All the girls are just really thrilled their hard work paid off for round one," she said.
"I guess it's a sign of how far we have come and how much interest there is in women's footy at the moment and how much it's going to grow from this competition.
It's unfortunate people had to miss out on seeing it but, with all great sporting events, people miss out
"It's unfortunate people had to miss out on seeing it but, with all great sporting events, people miss out. It just shows how much interest there is and how lucky we are with people supporting us."
Vescio said even she would have a doubted a couple of years ago that a women's league could attract the support it already has garnered.
"Even I would have been one of those people a couple of years back (a doubter) but I think footy is just a game for everyone and this is just showing how much people love it," she said.
Midfielder Brianna Davey, another marquee signing, was also superb for the Blues with 26 disposals and a goal.
Marc Murphy, the captain of the men's side, was so moved by Vescio's performance up forward that he labelled her the best No.3 at the club.
"DV has me covered!" Murphy wrote on Twitter. Murphy, of course, also dons the No.3 guernsey.
"It's really kind of Marc. He is a really sweet guy but think I have got a long way to go to say I am up with Murph. He is unreal," Vescio said.
Amid joyous scenes on Friday night, which reduced some observers to tears after years of trying to forge a women's competition, Vescio joined her teammates signing autographs – on paper, hands and even mobile-phone cases.
Then there was the challenge of remembering the lines for the Blues' theme song – We Are The Navy Blues.
"There are a few tricky lines in there but I think everyone was mostly around it. We had to have a quick read in the lead-up to make sure we got it right – but it was good," Vescio said, smiling.
Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.