AFL Rd 18 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs

[Baggers]

I don't think anybody doubts that, the problem [member=61]Baggers[/member] it might not be sustainable week in and week out.

Fans want a lot of stuff, they want Charlie and / or Harry kicking 10, they want TDK solo dominating, they want Cripps BoG, they want Walsh with 30+ and Weiters with a dozen intercepts in front of a scoreless opponent, but want isn't reality, it's not even reality for one game let alone week after week.

We need a spread of methods, we need some easy wins, we need some gritty wins, we need ways to win with small forwards, and ways to win with KPPs, in summary we need many ways to find a win, but by definition having multiple avenues to victory will mean some weeks certain players are in roles that won't see then in the spotlight.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, Spotted One. My point is about above the shoulders. Yes, some players will have ordinary days attitude wise. But not most of the side. Sustained excellence is not fickle or moody. To expect to be at our best, mentally, for two hours a week is not a stretch.

Sorry mate, but no-one expects, to use your example, Charles or H to kick 10 goals every week. Or Crippa to be BOG every week (though he does come close), Walsh to get 30 plus possessions ...etc. That's just silly. But there is a reasonable expectation to be as switched on as possible, to be focussed, to represent our 'brand' with a hunting mentality. For two games in a row our mental application has been below our own standards. No excuses. Early last year our mental application was poor, and the players knew it and went away and addressed it. From there on we sustained focus and excellence for more than 3 months! With only two slip ups, the second being the preliminary final - exhausted.

There is an above the shoulders issue which must be addressed which I am confident the coaches and players know about. When Crippa refused to be chaired off the ground and got the players into a huddle I'm sure he wasn't justifying and excusing the effort as some would suggest. "Hey fellas, don't worry about it, nothing to be concerned about, it's to be expected we can't sustain good efforts ever week..." I don't think so. As a leader he was right royally p*ssed off and wanted to get his troops' heads back in the game. That's leadership. He wants a ruthless attitude from his boys... every week.