Carlton Supporters Club

Started at a funeral, ended at a party.

Clearly a season of contrasting halves. The club will be perfectly aware that they cannot rest or stand still or think the job is done. 17 other teams will strive to evolve and improve, and we must do the same, in what is essentially an AFL arms race.

Some fantastic efforts in that second half of the season, and surely some luck as well - but the latter is necessary for any team that goes all the way.

I was happy that most of the usual injury suspects managed to stay on the park, happy that we got the media off of our case for a change, happy with the performance of many individuals, concerned with the form of a couple.

Definitely a successful season, but now that expectations have been raised, the pressure is on and the fun really starts.

Well done to all at the CFC.

How are the players feeling?
Naturally there will be a level of hurt and disappointment, but given the run, the injuries and exhuastion at the end, has the loss bit hard, or do they perhaps (even subconsciously) share the supporter feelings that we've done very well from the position we were at mid year?
They're entitled to believe that but, it's left us in a somewhat different position to a side that has been badly burnt and shamed in a finals campaign.
That's a side that looks for redemption.
We have nothing to redeem.
We've lost, but we've been solid.
We can't know the level of hurt internally, but there is one thing that we need to see, a much better and full on effort from the start of season 2024.

@Lods there won't be any warm and fuzzy feelings amongst the playing group, that's a fan perspective.

I've been involved with state level sport and even won some state titles over the years, I know you've had a long involvement with athletics, have you every known top level sportspeople or teams to be satisfied with going close?

In my experience falling at the last hurdle just makes people who are already driven and capable to get to the highest levels, even more driven! The most important thing is to learn from the failure and sharpen your focus on the things that are needed.

The danger for us is believing that we'll be there for sure next year, because that's when it can come undone.
And that's a challenge for the coaching staff in the off-season.

i am rapt we played finals and won a couple of games but what concerns me is our game plan /style for me it is no good . There is no other team that kicks ball straight to opposition so many times through out a game ,so what happens turnover opponents easy goals . But we played finals yes and we won but how lucky were we with syd /melb in inaccuracies . Need to IMPROVE transition footy from defence to forward line for 24

I don't think thats the game plan.  I think thats what you call errant and rushed ball use.  No one goes out there intending to hit an opponent with each and every kick.

For me, it comes down to game management.  We were 5 goals up, conceded 2 in the second quarter, and instead of recognising a momentum swing had occurred, we continued taking the game on and playing fast, which led to quick kicks up the line, and long bombing.

That was the mistake.  At some point you need to kill the momentum game, by playing kick mark football and that arrests the momentum.  Instead we seemed to have gone into scoring mode which is anathema to maintaining a lead, and also exposes you to a red hot opponent who is currently on the ascendency scoring against you almost seemingly at will.