DARCY Vescio has inspired Carlton to a 60-point AFLW thrashing of Gold Coast Suns as records tumbled at Metricon Stadium on Friday to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
The Blues registered the AFLW’s biggest ever total in the 13.9 (87) to 4.3 (27) club record thumping with Vescio kicking a personal best 5.1 for the match to become the first AFLW player to boot 40 career goals.
The previous biggest AFLW total was 12.14 (86) by the Western Bulldogs in 2018.
Vescio became just the third player in AFLW history to kick more than four goals in a match, leapfrogging Adelaide’s Erin Phillips (39) to top the all-time AFLW goalkickers list on 44 majors.
Her impressive bag also provisionally took her top of the 2021 AFLW goal kickers rankings with 14, overtaking Fremantle’s Gemma Houghton (12).
Early season favourites Carlton began the game in eighth spot after a four-point last-round loss to Fremantle that seemed to sum up their frustrating season.
But their percentage boosting victory in their first-ever game against Gold Coast, and first in Queensland since 2017, has ensured the Blues remain a mathematical chance to make the top six and play finals footy with one game remaining.
Carlton (4-4 record) have now won four of their last six games.
In contrast, time is running out for the Suns to register a victory in 2021 after slumping to a 0-8 record despite a promising start on Friday.
Gold Coast kicked the first three goals of the game to jump to a 19-7 lead at the opening interval.
But Vescio singlehandedly brought Carlton back into the game, kicking three straight as the visitors got the jump 28-26 at halftime.
She had four by the third term as Carlton booted 5.0 to lead 59-26 at final interval and bagged her fifth early in the fourth.
However, she gave up any chance of equalling Bulldogs’ Brooke Lochland’s AFLW record of seven majors in a match by selflessly dishing off to teammates in the second half.
For the Blues, Natalie Plane kicked two goals while Grace Egan had 20 touches.
Alison Drennan had 19 disposals for the Suns.
(C) AAP 2021
CARLTON 1.1 4.4 9.5 13.9 (87)
GOLD COAST SUNS 3.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 (27)
Goals: Carlton: D Vescio 5 N Plane 2 B Moody B Walker E O’Dea L Brazzale L McEvoy N Stevens. Gold Coast Suns: A Drennan L Single M Levi S Virgo.
Umpires: James Strybos, Sam Whetton, Cameron Manthey.
Official Crowd: 272 at Metricon Stadium.
