AFL Finals 2024 Carlton vs Brisbane in Brisbane

[Baggers]

OK folks, so here is the VERY early oil I have on selection.
Ins : Cerra, Doc, McGovern, McKay and  ..... Martin (as the sub)
Outs : Binns, Carroll, Lord, Moir & Owies.
Charlie couldn't get up nor could TDK and  Williams
Disappointing that none of the young blokes get a run and somehow Motlop and Fantasia survive. Needless to say if we lose the MC will cop a fair bit of criticism and rightfully so.

I bet even the MC doesn't know our final side as yet. Especially considering there's another training run tomorrow!

My real concern is all the marketing and attention given to the sentimentality of Doc's selection. A wonderful feel good and good news story, and no doubt will lift the lads, momentarily... but... how much of a distraction might it also be? Apologies for being a wet blanket, but there's a very real risk associated with a bloke who hasn't played in heat for so many months.

Hopefully the coaching group is more than aware of the risk of distraction and the risk of limited exposure to game day pressure and expectations for Doc. After five minutes on the field, it's no longer about the romance but about hard-nosed delivery of the job at hand; the harsh reality of the huge task ahead of Doc and the rest of us.

Brisvegas is the red hot favourite for this game, for good reasons. Reality. We're the deserved underdogs.

Selection will be a real balancing act. You can't risk taking too many injury prone blokes into a final. There are in form kids who've delivered over the past few games and deserve inclusion, and a number of blokes lacking match fitness who are susceptible to breaking down, regardless of reputation.