AFL Rd 24 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs GWS

[Lods]

In the post match presser, Voss said early indications on Acres' shoulder "might not be great."

Not sure I understand the cockiness and arrogance some fans are displaying, as if somehow we could smash the Giants or any other team if we really wanted to. We didn't lose by 1 or 2 points. We lost by 5 goals, and I think frankly the scoreline flattered us. Alarm bells ringing all over the ground after that performance.

Don't take some of the comments for cockiness or arrogance.
It's more a personal idea of what that game was all about and the needs of both sides.
Nothing in life is guranteed...and that is sure and certain when it comes to finals.
We could go down in a screaming heap if we're not switched on when we play the Swans.
But there is a confidence that we will be switched on and if we bring our best football we should win.

I think alarm bells were ringing a bit in the previous couple of weeks, and they were telling us that the group had been playing with a pressure and intensity that was starting to take a toll.
Some players needed a rest, some returning players needed a game with a bit less intensity than we'd been bringing, but one that still gave them a hit-out.

All of us have different life experiences in terms of our sporting careers.
When commenting on these things we bring our own perspective and experiences.
Football has changed significantly since I was young.
Players are now full time professionals, you won't see them with a smoke in the change room after a game.
They don't have to rush from work to training through the week.
Diet and training loads are planned, constantly monitored and tweaked if there is an issue.
Strength and conditioning people are all over training loads and when to go hard and when to ease off.
Hard work is done during the pre-season to build a fitness base and it's more about maintaining that through the season.
Injury and even inexplicable loss of form needs to factored into an individual's program.
We don't know what goes on behind the scenes and what players are playing through injury.
Clearly a fully fit Cripps, Docherty and Pittonet (I suspect he was carrying a few niggles, even though he was listed as omitted) would have improved our side last night.

The other issue was the mental side of the game.
GWS had everything to play for, our guys were probably more cautious, just wanting to make sure they were part of the finals side.
Getting into the heads of our players is impossible but some would have had very different ideas about their approach to the game.
Have a look how we started...getting Charlie his required goals...and the effort was great, after that Weitering gets hurt and goes off, the momentum changes, do we want to fight hard against that knowing that next injury could be us. There's an ebb and flow in effort up until half-time and then it's a cue in the rack performance that sees our very best players finish the game on the bench.

No, it's not an arrogance but more a confidence that we're better than that effort.
Of course it depends on whether we are focused and ready to go...and that's never guaranteed.
Overconfidence can bring you unstuck.
It's over to the coaches and players now.
Every game from now on must be a full on effort...because there is no 'next game' if we lose.
And our players are about to experience a pressure unlike any they've struck before.