AFL 1st Semi Final Carlton vs Melbourne Post Game Prognostications

[Thryleon]

Hopefully Paul is fine.
I think what we're seeing is just a difference in supporter approaches.

It's the glass half full/empty phenomenon.
We're all stoked that we're still in it.
For some, the lid is well and truly off and they can't see 'where we'll lose a game'.
They look at the games ahead and think 'Why not!'.

For others, the lid is still on but there's a sign of movement
They look at where we've come from, the injuries to significant players (some held together by masking tape) and wonder whether we can drag ourselves over the finish line.

Some of the stats are against us to the point where we've won against the odds.
So 'luck' is playing a huge part.

Effort, luck and durability will all play a part.
Effort is about the only thing we can control.
Have no doubt that if we win this from the position we were at half way through the season it may very well be the best flag ever...and that's saying something.

In euro 2004, I gave Greece 0 chance of winning against most of their opposition who were better credentialled, better manned, and in better health heading into each and every single game they played.

Thing is, the national team hit a vein of form that was unlikely to be repeated both in qualifying and at the major tournament proper, which resulted in seeing them lift a trophy by any sense of the imagination they had no business lifting against a much more fancied opponent on their own deck no less. 

Once you are in finals, all bets are off, what should and shouldnt happen is up to fate, and luck will have some bearing on how this all plays out.

Thing is, pressure can do funny things to a team.  Our boys have choked under pressure over the past 24 months but less so in the past 12 weeks, and have shown an ability to lift beyond that, and whilst the pressure is not on us at the moment, the teams we are playing against are pressuring us, and we are standing up.

They are not exactly thriving under pressure either.  Collingwood have not had a good 8 weeks.  Brisbane are showing scintillating form, but have had minimal adversity to play through, so if things do happen to go against them, how will they cope?

No one knows.  We are here in a prelim, for the first time in what is effectively my adult lifetime (I turned 18 in 2000).  We have a pretty good record at turning finals appearances into flags from an efficiency perspective, and the weight of expectations do more to work in our favour than not.

Of our finals opponents, I think we have shown the least capability of being an accomplished premiership winning outfit, even at our scintillating best, and we are about 2 notches below that currently, but with sport, you just never know.  For me, I am enjoying the ride, looking at it one contest at a time, and hoping for the best knowing at the back of my mind that irrespective of what happens, from here, the best performing team will win the flag. 

We are giving it a red hot go, and our window has been smashed open this season so enjoy the next few years as we are in that frame.