Post Game Passion: AFL 2019 Rd 15: Carlton vs. Freo

[laj]

The game was won on heart, effort, will, desperation and luck. Once again, behind on the scoreboard most of the night, and just got in our noses in front when the final siren sounds, topped off by some vintage Murphy Magic™. The best thing for me was the reaction from the players when they won - their elation was palpable, and I was so happy for them, having put in plenty of work under Bolts and Teague. And to do it without the stars was a bonus.

But let's face it, the game was mostly devoid of skill, and system or method seemed to disappear in large parts. This "hack it forward at all costs" idea, which seemed to increase as the game wore on, is not a platform for future success. We won't be troubling too many teams with that.

Actually, that was the Richmond way in 2017. Scrub it in there the best way you can then fight like crap to keep it there with enough pressure eventually forcing the defence to break. F50 pressure is obviously very important. Like Richmond back then it eventually broke down the opposition in the last qtr where we kicked 5 goals. Interesting we went that way once our forward line lost Charlie. If we couldn't get it in cleanly we knocked it on, kicked it off the ground etc, anything to keep the ball going forward.