Before every game this year, the Carlton players get together and sing Untouched by Australian duo The Veronicas.
“Before the game, we were a bit silly,” Erone Fitzpatrick told ABC Sport after the Blues’ dominant 41-point elimination final win against West Coast last weekend.
“We have Ciara Fitzgerald, she gets in the middle of everybody and we just all dance to ‘Untouched’.
“We play our best football when we’re a bit silly and just joy and festivity really is what we’re chasing this year – and I think you can see that with the way we’re playing.
“I think that’s the vibe that you can see on the field too, just everybody gets around each othre and we’re silly, but we’re having fun simultaneously occurring.”
Carlton are playing in finals for the first time as 2020. (Getty: james Worsfold/AFL Photos)
Carlton is playing finals for the first time as 2020 this year and will go into Saturday’s semifinal against Hawthorn as the favourites.
Many have credited younger players such as Sophie McKay,Poppy Scholz and Lila Keck as giving the side that has struggled in recent seasons with a new energy.
In the opposing colours, Hawthorn players have been using the song Dark Horse by Katy Perry as one of their songs this year.
Midfielder Eliza West said it was emblematic of how they felt like underdogs despite achieving a top-four finish.
“Just from how our season panned out, and we’ve had to grind out some tough games. We’re still feeling like we’re the underdogs and we still have a point to prove,” west said.
hawthorn Hawks Face carlton in AFLW Semi-Final Despite Injury Struggles
The Hawthorn Hawks are preparing for a crucial semi-final clash against carlton at princes Park on Saturday night, despite a season considerably impacted by injuries. Key players including Lucy Wales, Emily Bates, Aileen Gilroy, Jasmine Fleming, Ainslie Kemp, Najwa Allen, Bridie Hipwell, and Jenna Richardson have all spent considerable time on the sidelines.
The Hawks will welcome back captain Emily Bates for the do-or-die match. Second-year players Hayley McLaughlin and Sophie Butterworth will replace Emily Everist (concussion) and Kaitlyn Ashmore (calf) in the lineup.
Despite the extensive injury list,Hawthorn remains optimistic. coach Bec West highlighted the strong team spirit and the role of players like Aine Perry in boosting morale.
“We’ve actually got a few songs that we play beforehand at different points. But I think Aine (McDonagh) and Casey (Sherriff) are the controllers of that,” West said.”The girls love to sing and dance before the game, it gives them energy going in … some of the girls, like aine, she will do it and then go out and kick three goals.”
West also noted the differing pre-game routines within the team,with some players preferring to conserve energy thru physical warm-ups while others embrace the energetic pre-game songs.
Hawthorn is embracing the role of underdog as they head into the finals series, hoping to make a strong run despite the challenges they’ve faced throughout the season.
Image: An AFLW player with head in hands, another looking dejected after a finals loss (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Michael Willson)