Why these AFLW stars refuse to ‘stick to dancing’ in the face of social media pile-on

Last year Carlton felt untouchable. Literally.In 2025, the team had a meteoric rise and a rampaging finals campaign – powered by the Aussie pop anthem Untouched by sister-duo The Veronicas, which the Blues sang every week before a game.So what’s inspiring Carlton this year ahead of their semi-final clash with Hawthorn on Saturday night?Former rising star nominee and young Blue Poppy Scholz says The Veronicas “have taken a back seat this year”.“We knew after last year we couldn’t redo it – we needed to find something new to give us a new spark,” Scholz told this masthead.“We haven’t found a new song. We tried a few, but nothing really came naturally, whereas [The] Veronicas came very naturally for us.“So instead, it’s just our pre-game dances.”The 19-year-old South Australian comes from a dancing background and brings her love of musical theatre to Carlton choreography sessions during the week.Scholz’s love of dancing is something she shares on TikTok with her growing social media fan base. It’s also a passion she shares with her sister – Port Adelaide star and All-Australian, Matilda Scholz.The competitive duo used to play the Just Dance video game growing up, dancing around the living room until their feet ached.Was there a superior dancer between them?“She [Matilda] just looks cooler when she dances compared to me,” Scholz said with a grin. “I don’t look cool, but I’m building my skills.”Towards the end of the home-and-away season, Port Adelaide players performed the Nutbush dance in their change rooms – a creative way to get through an hour-long lightning delay during the clash with St Kilda in poor weather conditions.AFLW fans on social media loved it, but there was an influx of derogatory and sexist commentary from others.“I wonder why this sport is a joke,” one user posted.Another added: “Stick to dancing, it’s better viewing”.A passionate Matilda Scholz hit back at the commentary, telling media the critics “don’t watch women’s sports, and don’t understand that we prepare differently to how the men prepare”.Poppy said she was proud of Matilda for speaking up, noting her big sister had always been “strong-minded” and willing to “fight for what she believes in”.“As we’ve gotten older, we’ve had a lot of conversations about misogyny and sexism, and like how that transpires in what she’s doing on TikTok and in AFL,” she said.“Especially being in female sport, I think we’re subject to a lot of sexism. So yeah, seeing her [Matilda] call it out. I mean... I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.”Why do videos of professional female athletes having fun and dancing seem to make some people so angry?“I think they don’t like seeing females play sport and be good at something that maybe they want to be good at,” she said.Matilda and Poppy Scholz at last year’s W Awards at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park.Getty Images“I think they just want something to tear down people that are playing in women’s sport... so they come for our dancing.“We don’t operate the same way that the AFL operates, or other men’s sport operate.“They would do other stuff to calm their nerves, and dancing’s something that we’ve found to calm our nerves.”Poppy wants to find the confidence to use her own voice, too.Earlier this week, Gold Coast delisted Georgia Clayden just weeks before she is set to give birth, casting a spotlight on the league’s maternity leave policy and support for pregnant and postpartum athletes.“I think definitely there needs to be a change,” she said when if the league’s maternity policy should evolve.Poppy Scholz says the Blues are ready for Hawthorn this weekend. Chris Hopkins“Just to give AFLW players some security so they can go start a family. The AFLW is such a new league, and it’s not something that the AFL mens have to deal with.”Scholz says she’s lucky to be surrounded by the calibre of teammates and mentors that she is, as well as Carlton’s high-performance staff, who have kept her body in such good condition that she hasn’t missed a single game.She’s just completed her certificate IV in school-based education support and wants to go to university next year to study a dual degree in psychology and science.The 19-year-old says she’s fortunate to be inspired by great leaders at the club, highlighting her housemate, captain Abbie McKay, and veteran star Darcy Vescio.The 33-year-old Vescio recently signed a one-year contract extension and will play their 100th game on Saturday at Ikon Park, becoming the first Carlton AFLW player to do so.“I hope I can be like a mixture of Darce and Abby,” Scholz said. “I can’t speak more highly of them, both as leaders and as players.”On Saturday, the Blues will take on Hawthorn in a do-or-die semi-final clash in front of a home crowd at Ikon Park. It’s a second chance for Carlton, who were outclassed by North Melbourne to the tune of 36 points in their qualifying final.Scholz knows it will be a tough game, but she says the Blues are ready.“We know what our best footy looks like – it’s moving the ball with speed [and] having fun with the way we play. That’s when we’re playing our best footy.”Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.