Carlton had to weather a storm in more ways than one en route to a 21-point AFLW victory over the GIANTS on a dramatic night at Drummoyne Oval.
The first AFLW fixture at the boutique ground in Sydney's inner-west was delayed as an electrical storm circled at quarter-time.
AFL officials, in consultation with umpires, put a halt to the action and players left the field for 20 minutes.
The break seemed to benefit an inaccurate Carlton, who returned to notch a 3.12 (30) to 1.3 (9) triumph in the absence of senior coach Damien Keeping.
He did not make the trip north after spending part of the week in hospital, with assistant Nick Rutley taking the reins.
Keeping was not the only casualty – Blues' skipper Brianna Davey was taken from the field on a stretcher with a serious leg injury in the final term.
She had been the visitors' best before her early exit, while Jess Hosking (14 disposals) and Sarah Hosking, who notched 15 tackles in the wet, also shone.
The GIANTS started well and – fresh from her three-goal effort in round one – forward Phoebe McWilliams slotted the opening major of the night from a free kick.
It was the home side's last.
At the other end, Carlton had their chances but could not convert. However, when Jess Hosking hit the post nine minutes into the second term scores were level – albeit 1.0 (6) to 0.6 (6).
Eventually the Blues' dominance in possession and territory told.
Snaps from Nicola Stevens and Katie Loynes either side of half-time delivered Carlton a 13-point advantage, nine scoring shots to one.
And, despite losing their best player to injury in the last quarter, the Blues remained on top, using the greasy ball better on a humid night in the Harbour City.
More to come.
GIANTS 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.3 (9)
CARLTON 0.4 1.7 3.7 3.12 (30)
GOALS
GIANTS: McWilliams
Carlton Stevens, Loynes, Vescio
BEST
GIANTS: Ferrugia, Gum, Eva, McWilliams, McKinnon
Carlton: Davey, J Hosking, S Hosking, Audley, Vescio, Harrington
INJURIES
GIANTS: Tully (shoulder)
Carlton: Davey (leg)
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Rawlings, Crosby, Newell
Crowd: 4,952
