AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications

[RiverRat]

I would like to add in a class small forward who pressures and  kicks goals. We are slightly  below par here imo. Not sure what we have will improve.

Motlop lacks the blistering speed that we associate with dominant small forwards but IIRC he has shown he can be a player - more so than Eddie Betts, who developed into a top player but who was gifted quite a few games in his early career.

[cookie2]

I really hope you guys are right about Motlop. If he got near being Eddie B quality I'd be rapt!

[ElwoodBlues1]

I like Motlop, he has improved and as I keep saying that run in the twos where he spent time further up the ground in a midfield role helped his game.
He isnt that definitive crumbing type small though and that's what I think Cookie wants..

[shawny]

Motlop lacks the blistering speed that we associate with dominant small forwards but IIRC he has shown he can be a player - more so than Eddie Betts, who developed into a top player but who was gifted quite a few games in his early career.

100%. Motlop, Kemp, Boyd, Dekoning, Hollands are all looking very good for their age and im comfortable we have a capable  young group that once they get a few more seasons under their belt will improve us further.

On the year as a whole, Charlie for whatever reason couldn't play to his high standard in any of the 3 finals. No doubt all our finals opposition coaches put a hell of a lot of work into stopping him and maybe we just thought he would replicate his H/A form. Hopefully Charlie and our forward coaches learn from this and are better equipped when it comes around next year.

Considering how bagged up we were to key players i was happy to just win the first final but to get into a Prelim and play away where they haven't lost all year this group can be proud and will get some invaluable lessons playing so deep into a final series which 'should' propel us further and faster then we would have if we were outed in the elimination final.

Be proud fellow blues, finally we have a team ready and believing and will be in the flag window IMO for the next 5-6 years. Exciting times ahead.

[madbluboy]

I like Motlop, he has improved and as I keep saying that run in the twos where he spent time further up the ground in a midfield role helped his game.
He isnt that definitive crumbing type small though and that's what I think Cookie wants..

He kicked 24 goals from 20 games this year. At the same age in 2006 Betts kicked 20 goals from 21 games.

Eddie's break out year was 2009 when he kicked 38 goals.

[Micky0]

I can’t believe Cerra is 23, seems so much older to me.

[Mantis]

I heard the interview with Voss. Made some comments that can’t be argued. Especially the fact that Brisbane have been in finals for a few years and working towards a flag opportunity. These opportunities take time. I hope as supporters we don’t assume a potential flag next season. If might take time to get to the ultimate opportunity. GWS is a good example. They had a chance on the big stage and lost. This season they fell short in a preliminary final by 1 point. Sydney had an ultimate opportunity and failed. Then to be eliminated in the first final. Melbourne going out in straight sets 2 years in a row. It takes minimal injuries and everything falling in place at the right moment. For now any players with potential surgeries should do what needs to be done. Take a break, and then plan how to change and improve before next season. While the club looks at better development of the youth and what needs to come to the club with other players.

[Sub-Zero]

16pts was a sign of a good fight.

Spot on! They were made to earn their score, we defended with heart, spirit and determination. That cannot be faulted at all. Cameron's shanks made it look better than what it should have been on the scoreboard, but we had some near misses as well, which could have made the game much closer or even a most impossible win! But really, the better team won. They were far too good for three quarters around the middle of the ground and with their ball use on the outside, the 'Gabba is a very large ground, they haven't lose there all year and deserve their spot in the GF. They've been knocking on the door for a few years and it is clearly their time now, ours will come. You've generally got to have the experience of finals before you win one. In closing, speaking of large grounds, so is the MCG, why they struggle there so much, I don't know...

[Sub-Zero]

So if we had to play GWS in or the Saints it would have ended any different. We lost against GWS if I remember. It wasn’t about the run in. Eventually you lose to a better squad. Pick 6 players from the Brisbane squad you would swap for our squad. If the result is Nill, then we lost by being too tired or just by bad luck. We did well to get the result we finished with.

We also beat GWS as well and lost to them as they had more to play for than us at the time.

[cookie2]

Speaking of Cameron,  I think Saad must have been getting to him. He was very prickly and had a couple of goes at at him, quite heatedly.