Elimination Final: Blues v Swans Match Thread MCG

[Blood Fever]

We lost the game, but in the end we should have won. Our opportunities to win were greater than theirs - and for much of the match - we just couldn’t convert.

Carlton were not in control or dictating terms. That is not a true reflection of the contest last night. 23 scores to 19 says a fair bit, as does Parker’s comment after the game that we ‘had them on the ropes’.

Spot on. We do need to get better at clearances but our pressure game is elite. We didn't take our chances kicking for goal, not dissimilar to how Melbournwe lost to Collingwood.

[Blood Fever]

John Longmire post game press conference worth a look. Straight shooter who keeps emphasising that as a young team, there is plenty of growth to come. I'm sort of relieved these young guys get a longer break before next year to freshen up before a solid pre-season.

[MattW]

John Longmire post game press conference worth a look. Straight shooter who keeps emphasising that as a young team, there is plenty of growth to come. I'm sort of relieved these young guys get a longer break before next year to freshen up before a solid pre-season.

That relief / upside hit me 10 minutes after the game. We were not going to win this year and given that, there are benefits to finishing early. Longer rest, chance for young bodies to have a big pre-season. Also impetus - the last time we lost in an elimination final due to inaccurate goalkicking, we played a grand final the next year.

We'll be a better chance next year.

[Blood Fever]

That relief / upside hit me 10 minutes after the game. We were not going to win this year and given that, there are benefits to finishing early. Longer rest, chance for young bodies to have a big pre-season. Also impetus - the last time we lost in an elimination final due to inaccurate goalkicking, we played a grand final the next year.

We'll be a better chance next year.

One or two new seasoned players would help that impetus and the young core group.

[waswan]

Spot on. We do need to get better at clearances but our pressure game is elite. We didn't take our chances kicking for goal, not dissimilar to how Melbournwe lost to Collingwood.

Im not as gutted about missed goals this week as I usually am.... Carlton left a few on the board as well

[MattW]

One or two new seasoned players would help that impetus and the young core group.

Absolutely. I think we need a proven goalscorer, somehow.

[KTigers]

It's the same as every year. Finish 1 or 2, get a couple home finals and then a shot in the GF. Three away games in
a row isn't a great alternative to that. Unfortunately Collingwood will probably win it.

[waswan]

Absolutely. I think we need a proven goalscorer, somehow.

We have 2, Paps and Heeney

Look at their respective Heat Maps from last night and that will tell you why neither kicked a goal

[rojo]

I'm surprised by the harsh commentary on Amartey. He had a shocker but clearly shouldn't have played. If you go back to the game where his hamstring went and the one before it I think, he was playing the best footy of his career. He was getting down to ground balls and tackling and taking marks around the ground and kicking goals. I have never had an hamstring injury but if you have had a string of them mentally it must take time to trust your body again. We have watched Reid struggle and play like a stick man when he comes back from injury. Looking ahead it will be a shame if this becomes an ongoing problem for him.

Melican is our other big man who has had to face so much time out that we have not yet seen just how good he could be. I hope both of them can get past these issues and become key players for us, but we so need them to now!!!

[troyjones2525]

Carlton dictated terms. Let’s be frank. Make no bones about it.

They controlled the game which enables you to win by one goal or five due to their lead and being able to shape the game to their advantage. There was only a small moment or two where their control of the game was tested. These surges were repelled.

I thought our backline defence cobbled together in the end but Mackay going off after being so brilliant with his long leads and marks let us back in due to Curnow increasing his long leads and then not being in scoring spots much.

I feel this season we are off the pace keeping up with the talent building in the top8 teams in 2023.

Our backline transitions make us look like a pretty good team to watch…….but wouldnt it be nice to have another electric player up front who can score points and a midfield that doesn’t have to tag or run with a fellow top8 team?

Wouldn’t it be nice if our pick 3 who is now 26 years of age (Callum Mills) was tagged in the midfield. Let him loose !

Wouldn’t it be nice if our 27 year old gun old Issac Heeney did t have to tag but was let loose on the ball?

These guys are getting the clean ball rather than the crumbs?

I don’t think it is ever looked so obvious that the Carlton Mids dominated.

Cripps, Docherty, Acres vs our starting centre line of BJ, McInerney and Warner just looked chalk and cheese.

Let Warner tag if he is playing in his shell.

It felt like the mids of Geelong in the GF last year where they dictated terms and we played catch up.

Will be fascinating to see how our coaching and recruitment isolate what we really need to make us the hunter and stop doing the hunting.

100% agree! Guys like Mills and Heeney shouldn't be tagging, they are the ones who should be tagged!

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[stevoswan]

We are the last team to complain about score review but the process worked tonight, not enough evidence to overturn the soft call.

The process itself is flawed with poor tech but that is the current process

Why, because we had ONE review go our way? We have had so many go against us because of dodgy 'soft calls' so I reckon we can complain all we like.

I agree with you however that the process is flawed (like many AFL processes) because of poor tech and I'll add, the soft call has to go.....as it's yet another area of adjudication which can be used to manipulate an outcome.

[stevoswan]

Carlton will be missing McKay and Martin. But I think you’re right. Melbourne’s injuries are to more vital players. By the way, the report of the McKay injury on the AFL site seems to be a classic example of Vicbias. Apparently McCartin hit him with the back of his head.

What but they didn't feel it necessary to mention that Martin smacked Blakey in the mouth with a clenched fist in what could only be described as an act of thuggery?

[waswan]

Why, because we had ONE review go our way? We have had so many go against us because of dodgy 'soft calls' so I reckon we can complain all we like.

I agree with you however that the process is flawed (like many AFL processes) because of poor tech and I'll add, the soft call has to go.....as it's yet another area of adjudication which can be used to manipulate an outcome.

Im not denying the process is flawed but the ump made a call for a point and the camera was that poor it couldnt be overturned. Id say the rate of those being overturned all year is less than 5%.

Quite factually, we played finals due to a goal ump error in our favour, just taking the good with the bad or poor

[Blood Fever]

Im not as gutted about missed goals this week as I usually am.... Carlton left a few on the board as well

Harry McKay missed 2 of the easiest shots imaginable.

[dejavoodoo44]

That relief / upside hit me 10 minutes after the game. We were not going to win this year and given that, there are benefits to finishing early. Longer rest, chance for young bodies to have a big pre-season. Also impetus - the last time we lost in an elimination final due to inaccurate goalkicking, we played a grand final the next year.

We'll be a better chance next year.

Although, in his postmatch interview, Errol did seem to want to start training again today.

And in the disappointment of our season ending, just how good he was last night, has slipped under the radar a bit. In a high pressure game, most of his possessions ended up in the maximum advantage for us. Including a couple of clutch goals, when most of the forward line were missing shots. I've no doubt that he'll lead us to future finals wins.