Carlton kicked off the AFLW’s 10th season on a perfect note with a comfortable 24-point win over arch rival Collingwood.

The Pies started the night strong with the first two goals, but the Blues would kick six of the next seven to to cruise to victory at Ikon Park, 6.9 (45) to 3.3 (21).

Mimi Hill starred for the Blues in the midfield with a game-high 32 disposals and Erone Fitzpatrick bagged two goals as Carlton opened its account with a win in a campaign captain Kerryn Peterson will miss due to the birth of her first child.

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“They’ll be really pleased with the electricity of their footy,” Herald Sun reporter Lauren Wood said on Fox Footy.

“Particularly without their captain.

“Naturally when you’re without your skipper, you would have that sense of unknown. But led by Mimi Hill, they were pretty seamless without her.”

Former AFLW Carlton coach Daniel Harford said Hill was “allowed to do whatever the hell she liked” and “took full advantage of that”.

“Really set the game alight, she was enormous,” he said on Fox Footy.

Harford also praised Carlton “slick” ball movement, but noted Collingwood “had no answers” in a disappointing start to the season for last year’s wooden spooners, who’s dropped 13 of their last 14 games.

“There’s a few questions about the Magpies on the back of that and what they’re trying to do and look like,” he added.

“They didn’t show too much tonight, sadly for Magpies fans.”

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Collingwood fans had one moment in particular to cheer about, with No. 1 pick Ash Centra kicking her first goal with her first disposal in the second term.

But further souring the loss to the Pies was Irish rookie Kellyann Hogan’s night ending prematurely due to a shoulder issue.

Via Ronny Lerner from Newswire ….

HILL, MCKAY ON SONG

Carlton vice-captain Mimi Hill kicked off her campaign with a bang, racking up 32 disposals (17 contested) and six clearances and Abbie McKay had an impressive first game as Carlton captain as well, collecting 15 touches (nine) and five clearances, while laying nine tackles.

The Blues’ ruck tandem of Breann Harrington and Jess Good proved to be a big hit too. The pair combined for 27 disposals (19 contested), 36 hitouts, seven marks, six clearances and 12 inside 50s to wreak havoc against Collingwood’s Sabrina Frederick and Imogen Barnett. Britt Bonnici was the Magpies’ best with 21 possessions (14), 14 tackles and seven clearances.

FANTASTIC FITZPATRICK

Carlton’s Erone Fitzpatrick submitted an early contender for goal of the year in the third quarter when she collected the ball on the wing and dished it off to Mimi Hill, before gathering the loose pill again, engaging in a one-two with Tara Bohanna, running to 20m out in the pocket and drilling a magnificent goal to cap off a sensational solo effort and put her team up by 18 points. She was also one of the Blues’ best with two majors from her 12 touches.

ASH TAKES CENTRA STAGE

Highly-rated No.1 pick Ash Centra gave Collingwood fans a glimpse of her enormous talent late in the second term when she took a brilliant contested mark against Carlton defender Harriet Cordner and popped through the set shot from 25m out directly in front to snap a run of four consecutive Blues goals. In the process Centra became the latest player to join the exclusive first kick, first goal club.

POPPY VERY HAPPY

Another highly-regarded debutant, in Carlton’s Poppy Scholz, who was taken at pick six last year, also had a moment she will never forget when she made no mistake from 30m out on a tricky angle after being paid a 50m penalty for late contact. Like Centra, she was mobbed by her teammates in joyous scenes.

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Later tonight in the second game of an opening night double-header, Daisy Pearce’s West Coast hosts Rhyce Shaw’s Gold Coast.

Carlton vs Collingwood gets underway at 7:15pm AEST from Ikon Park.

Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), and streaming on Kayo, from 6:30pm AEST.

Follow Carlton vs Collingwood in our live blog below!