Re: 2024 Practice Match Carlton vs Melbourne
Reply #91 –
No one on this Earth can convince me last night was a good showing in any way shape or form.
- A full preseason on a ground where every player would know ever blade of grass. The blokes wearing CFC jumpers last night looked like they had to google map the address of IKON Park before beginning the drive to it let alone know it well. The next person I hear say "we need to have it as our home venue for premiership points and make it our fortress" I will spew up.
- A full preseason supposedly practicing speed and ball movement. I was abhorrent to say the least.
- A full preseason with footballs in hand from day 1 and they come out fumbling and dropping marks, skills that Carolyn Springs FC would put to shame.
- A full preseason with a group who had supposedly matured and turned the corner in 2023. They looked confused, lacked cohesion, it was like the first session of preseason having read the new game plan book.
Last night was the complete opposite to what I expected. I'm no dill, I realise it was a practice match and the result counted for nothing other than a tune up. However one week out from meeting one of last years Grandfinalists on their dungheap, I expected a sharp, determined looking outfit displaying all the traits that justify our expectations that 2024 will be a year where consolidate the achievements of 2023. And don't feed me the BS about missing our two best players either. Weitering they have know about for several weeks, if they haven't developed a play with him missing, shame on them. Walsh? Supposedly we have a deep midfield, now we are a one man midfield because of a poor showing. I call BS on that. They were missing Oliver and Petracca barely got out of reverse. We are not a one or two man team, or are we?
Overdramatic? Ever the pessimist? We'll see I guess. To truly change you have to guess what, change. Every year we come out slow out of the blocks, last night was no different. Following 2023 this was supposed to be different. Wrote us off too early? Again, we'll see I guess. Maybe last years PF was our peak, maybe that's as good as it gets for this group. I just expected something better, I'm nervous. PS Praccy match or not, they showed they are top 4 material and ready to redeem themselves, we played like pretenders who drank bath water Dakaris all summer.