CARLTON has seen off Walyalup and the first edition of AFLW 'Wharfie Time' to win a thriller at Cockburn ARC Oval by six points on Sunday afternoon, continuing an undefeated start to the season. 

In a thrilling clash that was alive right until the final seconds, the Blues held their nerve defensively, with the ball locked in Walyalup's forward half when the siren sounded to confirm the 7.6 (48) to 6.6 (42) win. 

DOCKERS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

In a bizarre game that saw all scores kicked to one end for more than three quarters, Carlton flipped the script to kick back-to-back goals against the breeze in the final term to set up its win, with Mimi Hill and Erone Fitzpatrick the heroes. 

Gabby O'Sullivan snapped a terrific goal to keep the Dockers alive, with the ground coming alive when the button was pushed for 'Wharfie Time' with 90 seconds to play. 

Star midfielder Kiara Bowers booted a behind to cut the margin to six points, but the Dockers couldn't find the goal they needed to tie scores, slipping to 1-2 after a heartbreaking loss. 

As well as Hill (23 disposals and a goal) and Fitzpatrick (23 and one), Poppy Scholz was critical for the Blues in a massive fourth quarter.

Bowers (27 and 11 tackles) was outstanding for Walyalup, while Gabby Newton (28 and seven clearances) was all class when the Dockers mounted their charge. Mim Strom (27 hitouts and eight clearances) was also prominent.  

"In a really tight game you need to have those (big moments) and maybe we had a few more than Freo in the end," Carlton coach Mathew Buck said. 

"Credit to our girls who have managed to take those moments. 

"It was a heavily contested game, and a lot of those numbers went our way around the contest, which was really pleasing to see. 

"You want to be able to win in all kinds of ways, so for our group to go and execute and hang on and fight and be resilient … they're a hard team to play against every time, but super proud of the group." 

The Dockers had a patient approach with the ball in the opening quarter and struggled to create opportunities, with a series of turnovers at half-forward opening the door for Carlton to pounce. 

The Blues didn't miss their chance either, kicking goals through Scholz, Claudia Whitfort, and Fitzpatrick, who converted a brilliant snap from the pocket to give the Blues an early 20-point lead. 

Scoreless in the opening term, things looked like getting worse for Walyalup when Aisling McCarthy clutched at her right knee after being tackled at the opening centre ball-up in thew second term, leaving the ground slowly with the help of trainers. 

The Dockers gathered themselves, however, with Bowers sparking a high-pressure quarter that stunned the Blues and turned the game, with Walyalup laying 20 tackles to 15 and controlling inside 50s (9-5).  

Megan Kauffman converted the Dockers' first goal before Newton cruised through traffic to boot a nice goal from 40m on the run. Gabby O'Sullivan added a third, with Strom giving her team the lead when she slotted a fourth on the run from just inside 50. 

The match tightened up in the third, with Carlton kicking back-to-back goals to grab a seven-point lead and Walyalup unable to take its chances despite spending plenty of time in attack. 

Scores were tied early in the fourth after Hayley Miller converted a tight set shot, with the match coming down to big moments and which team was going to take them. 

But Hill's class to convert a running banana gave the Blues the advantage before Scholz stood tall on the wing to create Fitzpatrick's match-sealing goal. 

"I said to the girls post-match, we're disappointed but not deflated," Fremantle coach Lisa Webb said. 

"I'm really proud of the way we worked through it. Our contest was much better again and we did a lot right today. 

"We could see a lot of what we were trying to execute, but we just missed some moments … we want to get better at executing in those key moments."  

Aish Mac revival 
Walyalup star Aisling McCarthy looked done for the day when she clutched at her right knee at the start of the second quarter, hobbling slowly from the field with the help of trainers. The midfielder went through plenty of tests on the boundary, however, and was up and completing run-throughs before half-time in promising signs. Still, it came as a massive surprise when the important 30-year-old emerged in the third quarter with her knee strapped, bolting down the wing and linking up with teammates. McCarthy finished with 11 disposals and four tackles. 

A true scoring end 
Every single score for more than three quarters was registered at the food truck end of Cockburn ARC Oval, or the left-hand side of the screen, as both teams utilised the breeze in different ways. For Carlton, quick movement gave them good looks when kicking with the breeze, while Walyalup was able to lock the ball in its front half with deep entries and tackling pressure when it had the advantage. Bizarrely, the Dockers created more entries against the wind in the third quarter (7-6) but poor kicking cost them scoring chances. With the breeze behind them in the fourth they booted two, but Carlton found a way to break through against the breeze.

Next up 
Walyalup hits the road to take on Richmond next Sunday at Ikon Park, with the teams meeting for the first time since the Dockers' commanding 44-point win at Fremantle Oval last season. The Blues will follow them at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon, taking on Collingwood. Mathew Buck's team won that match-up by 24 points in round one last season.  

WALYALUP   0.0.  4.3.  4.3   6.6 (42)
CARLTON   3.2.  3.2   5.4   7.6 (48)

GOALS
Walyalup: O'Sullivan 2, Strom, Newton, Miller, Kauffman
Carlton: Fitzpatrick 2, Whitfort, Scholz, S.McKay, Hill, Finn 

BEST
Walyalup: Bowers, Strom, Newton, O'Sullivan, Kauffman, Miller
Carlton: Fitzpatrick, Hill, Scholz, A.McKay, Finn, Whitfort 

LATE CHANGES 
Walyalup: Nil 
Carlton: Darcy Vescio (calf awareness)

INJURIES
Walyalup: McCarthy (knee) 
Carlton: Nil 

Crowd: 2,752 at Cockburn ARC Oval