Post Game Pondering: AFL 2020 Rd 9: Carlton vs Hawthorn

[Baggers]

Another knee jerk post.  Fancy assuming I'm happy with mediocrity. Stupid thing to say.  No I don't accept mediocrity, but I accept when a side up and coming that mediocrity will sometimes happen. Funny about that. You just keep working on it. Difference is I think with my head, not my frustrations.

The side has improved out of sight from 12 months ago and you know it. That's our 2nd thrashing in 20 games. Had losses we shouldn't have frustratingly had but that's part of it right now. If we didn't have then we would literally have been sitting on top of the ladder before last night, but we're not because at our stage of development were are still inconsistent, often during the same game. That's the reason why we are 10-10 under Teague, not 13-7 or 14-6. That's the one step stopping us from becoming a top side and will take time. But, hey, because we copped a shocker last night we are suddenly no good. Games like last night show us what we need to take the next step.

You expect it to happen overnight and get the craps when it doesn't happen. I know it takes time. As I said, can't cope with the ups and downs of the journey you're following the wrong sport.

You believe the present performances are okay or to be expected, I don't. I don't accept many performances this year as simply part of the process, you do. I get it. Terms like 'knee jerk' and 'stupid thing to say' don't strengthen your argument, invalidate the others argument or suddenly make your perspective better or right. 

At the risk of being repetitive and for the sake of clarity, I clearly understand that I'm not going to change your perspective and let me assure you, no matter how hard you try, you're sure as hell not going to change mine. And I'm 100% okay with that.

The only thing that will change my perspective at present is on-field performance... not words, not lovely pictures, not terrific interviews, not manipulated statistics, not your words... just performing a whole lot better, and consistently. Remember, we started this year with a stated goal and expectation of winning. My comments are against that backdrop.

I repeat, let's agree to disagree.