AFLW round eight: Carlton downs GWS Giants by 18 points as Darcy Vescio hits historic 50th goal

The GWS Giants have lost all four times the two sides had met in the league, and history repeated itself on Sunday night in Canberra to mark their fifth loss to the Blues.

Vescio had 48 goals to their name before the fixture, and made short work in the third quarter to claim their 49^th and historic 50^th to help their side to a 7.9 (51) game.

Carlton head coach Daniel Harford said the team and club were wrapped for the 28-year-old's achievement.

"They're a magnificent part of what the AFLW is and have them put on a bit of a show tonight, they probably could have kicked five, but to be the first player to kick 50 is an accolade I think they're worthy of," he said.

"It was great to see the players celebrate together after the game with them the way they did, so a very special moment."

Georgia Gee opened the scoring five minutes into the battle for the Blues, after a good disposal by Madison Prespakis on the edge of the goal square.

It took the remainder of the quarter for GWS to respond. Alyce Parker fended off the Blues defence to get a kick off to forward Tait Mackrill.

The 22-year-old took a mark inside the 50-metre on the buzzer to make it Giants 1.1 (7) and Blues 1.2 (8) heading into the second quarter.

The giants responded first in the second quarter, with Cora Staunton earning a free kick early after she was tackled post-disposal. The Irish footballer made no mistake from 35 metres out in front of the posts to send the home side in front.

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The Blues responded with Gabriella Pound leading the charge, punting the ball into the mix for a scramble inside the 50. Courtney Jones came away with the ball for the Blues, disposing it to Abbie McKay to kick the side's second.

Soon after skipper Kerryn Harrington set her side up for their third of the night, kicking it into the mix for Prespakis to take the mark deep into the quarter for Carlton's third to make it 3.2 (20) to Giants 3.1 (13).

Katie Loynes brought the margin back within one against her former side at the 13^th minute mark. Firing off a volley after a scramble in the 50m saw her come away with the ball.

Carlton showed why they have not lost to the Giants in their four previous meetings with Vescio getting their name on the scoreboard for the first time on Sunday night to mark their historic 49^th goal.

It was deva ju for Giants fans as Vescio took an almost identical mark from 25 metres out soon after, although this time they earnt a penalty to hit it from the goal square. Their second goal of the game made history, becoming the AFLW's first player to kick 50 goals since its inception in 2017.

Nicole Barr responded to lessen Carlton's lead after the historical kick minutes before to bring the game within one goal.

Giants' Brodee Mowbray may miss some weeks with a high tackle on Vaomua Laloifi by the boundary line, sending the Blues player for a head injury assessment.

Carlton were leading by 13 points heading into the fourth quarter.

Giants coach Alan McConnell was disappointed his team had blown their opportunity to secure a finals spot.

"Contested ball, I think it ebbed and flowed a little bit. So there were periods of time when it was ground balls early in the game that were killing us in the front half of the ground. In the second quarter, it was uncontested marks that were generating their chains," he said.

"We certainly expected that, because that's actually how Carlton play but we weren't able to contain it tonight."

A Giants defender was caught holding the ball, gifting the Blues a penalty inside the 50. Carlton's McKay made no mistake, and scored her second for the night, marking the first time she has scored twice in an AFLW fixture.

The Blues nearly increased their 19 point lead further after Gee found Vescio in the forward pocket. The marquee forward deemed the angle too tight the marquee forward gave it back to the 22-year-old in front of the sticks. Her kick rattled the goal post and rebounded out to keep her to one goal.

Staunton lessened the blow by claiming her second for the night to lessen the margin GWS was chasing.

The Giants left it a little too late, with Vescio sending the ball deep into the fifty with the home side gifting Carlton a penalty for Jones. Taking the visitor's lead to 18 points at the final buzzer, with Carlton taking a 7.9 (51) game and GWS kicking 5.3 (33).

The loss for the Giants, and win for Carlton leave both sides with three wins and five losses this season, making it almost impossible either will push into the top six for finals.

Carlton moved into ninth, and GWS sit in 10^th with only two more games left in the season.