AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications

[Thryleon]

Flags have been won in many different ways. 2017 Richmond won with one key forward and a small forward line, then in 2019 they won with Lynch, Riewoldt, Nankervis and Soldo. 2020 they did it with one ruck and a pinch-hitter. 2018 the Eagles won with Vardy, Lycett, Kennedy and Darling, Melbourne won with Gawn, Jackson, McDonald and Brown, 2022, Jackson was very proficient forward. 2022 Geelong went with Stanley, a part-timer ruck in Blicavs and as well as Hawkins and Cameron. Looks like you can win it with many different combinations.

If you go in with an one extra tall, or one extra small probably it isn't going to make alot of difference. Most important thing to me is that at least one ruck can play well around the ground and go forward and kick a goal. Can't have two centre bounce rucks that can't do anything else. That's where you come unbalanced, like essentially being like a player down. If you have one that can take marks around the ground and kick a goal, great, play 2 rucks. If you have just 2 plain centre bounce rucks that can't do much else then you need to pick a pinch hitter. It's why Levi, for all his faults is a very handy footballer. Luke Jackson probably a better version.

I said it before.

In a grand final like the one we saw, Jarrod Berry's 2 50 metre penalty brain fades had more to do with the result than any other factor.

Even so, had Bailey not played advantage in that last minute and a half of bedlam, and Brisbane kicked another goal the result flips, we talk about a brisbane premiership, and how Collingwoods decision to play Billy Frampton as a purely defensive forward cost them the game.

Or, Nathan Murphy's concussion becomes the difference.

The match was won and lost in so many little moments of people switching off at the wrong time, that team balance being "the reason" is completely irrelevant.