AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications

[laj]

Fans underestimate the toll playing the Swans and Melbourne consecutively took on the squad, Top 4 with a week off is a huge advantage, and teams only have a chance from the bottom half of the eight if one of the top teams has some bad luck.

If the team has a problem it was the start to the season, not the finals effort.

Could be argued that those 8 losses in 9 games cost us a flag. As MBB said, we were playing sudden death matches to many weeks, then had to front up to two of the hardest, contested going in the finals. Hence we are banged up and cooked by the PF. Not only that, we had to do it in Brisbane too.

[DJC]

Ill predict Zac will struggle to get into the side in 2024. Salaries and reputations count for nothing with Vossy.

That's true, but Zac is the sort of player that Vossy likes.  If he gets back to full fitness and plays his best footy, Zac's in the 22.

[DJC]

Could be argued that those 8 losses in 9 games cost us a flag. As MBB said, we were playing sudden death matches to many weeks, then had to front up to two of the hardest, contested going in the finals. Hence we are banged up and cooked by the PF. Not only that, we had to do it in Brisbane too.

That's the way I see it.  The loss to Brisbane at Marvel screwed our season.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Ill predict Zac will struggle to get into the side in 2024. Salaries and reputations count for nothing with Vossy.

I agree but big contracts always create an obligation imho to play those players ahead of Joe average when positions are tight and there isn't much between the players on form and ability.
Never seen ZW play an outstanding game to be honest either for us or GWS so it will be interesting to see what he can bring and what all the hype on him is about.

[Thryleon]

People complain we lack outside pace, and elite disposal. 

Zac Williams has both, and is a tough player when he is on.  He is like Boyd but with much more capability.

His problems stems from a lack of consistency and thats down to his body letting him down.

He is like Mcgovern.  All the ability, and without the opportunity and capability.

If we can get him right, he would play a similar role to that guy Coleman who cut us to pieces on saturday.

He is arguably the best field kick in the side.

[DJC]

People complain we lack outside pace, and elite disposal. 

Zac Williams has both, and is a tough player when he is on.  He is like Boyd but with much more capability.

His problems stems from a lack of consistency and thats down to his body letting him down.

He is like Mcgovern.  All the ability, and without the opportunity and capability.

If we can get him right, he would play a similar role to that guy Coleman who cut us to pieces on saturday.

He is arguably the best field kick in the side.

Yes!

If we have learnt anything this year, it is that seemingly injury-prone players can stay fit and make valuable contributions.

If we can nail Zac’s fitness regime and he has an ounce of luck, he could make a real difference next season.

[Professer E]

Best field kick in the side?  Sorry, I'd need some convincing on that issue.

[PaulP]

IMO, the minute Zac Williams is injury free and match fit, he comes straight in.

[LP]

Best field kick in the side?  Sorry, I'd need some convincing on that issue.

We don't have a lot of elite kicks, McGovern is clearly one, Boyd when he is on, I'd rate Williams and Hollands up there with Boyd but I'm not sure Williams takes as much risk as Boyd does.

Hollands for a 1st year has all the potential to be elite, Ryan Houlihan like elite, and we have Charlie and McKay in front of him!

A big improver this year has been Newman, still gets some wrong but cuts the opposition apart quite often when he gets it right.

Weiters is generally a good kick and a good decision maker, but probably doesn't get enough of the footy far enough up the field to make the most of it.

Binns coming through looks above average, LoB despite being maligned by some fans is an above average kick but fans only seem to remember the clangers.

For KPFs Charlie and McKay are above average field kicking, but of course they are usually in the wrong place to use it and that is the way we need it to stay.

If it was measured as a degree of difficulty like olympic diving, then I'd have McGovern, Boyd, Charlie on about par.

I wonder how much of our kicking problems are historical, I think under Bolts we had a too much defence don't make a mistake focus, but you can't get better at stuff like penetrating kicks by not trying!

[Professer E]

McG may be a great kick but his use onto F50  can be diabolical.  If he bombs long into F50 on our KFs heads' again I'd damn near sack him.