Carlton Supporters Club

It's interesting isn't it...

The general feeling is that we don't deserve to be there because we lost our way in the second half of the season.
That's fair enough.

But in the last two games we've been in winning positions, a bee's dick away from the final siren, against two 'in form' teams inside the top four.

We overwhelmed one in the third quarter on the weekend.

We've matched it with the very best...playing a brand of football for much of the game that would more than stand up in finals.

In the past, the club has sold bulls$&t hope, now it is genuine hope. Watch how many Charlie Curnows  and Sammy Walshes turn up at Aus Kick next year. There is pride being restored with being associated with Carlton and it should be a time of real optimism and positive anticipation!

Still a bit of a laughing stock and butt of jokes cos we choked.

I hope the club (and I'm sure they are) is getting behind Charles and Small Durds in particular. They've been singled out by many, and, yes, they made critical errors but they should not carry the burden of the loss. Beating themselves up, or taking to heart criticisms will serve no useful purpose. They're a coupla quality young men who made strong contributions through the year to us being in the 8... that's what's important now, and everyone learning from mistakes, then acknowledging how much was done right and will be improved upon in 2023.

i think the coincidence of two consecutive last minute losses may be leading to false conclusions. We held on for a few close victories in the early part of the season, with other teams coming at us in the latter stages. No choking there. There's a body of work both ways, and it's inconclusive at this point, whether these last 2 games were chokes or just lack of nous / experience in the back line, or fatigue or many other reasons. Don't forget the Pies have overrun half the competition this season.

Yes, Issac Smith spent several years playing for North Ballarat when they were winning flags. Was a star with them.

i think the coincidence of two consecutive last minute losses may be leading to false conclusions. We held on for a few close victories in the early part of the season, with other teams coming at us in the latter stages. No choking there. There's a body of work both ways, and it's inconclusive at this point, whether these last 2 games were chokes or just lack of nous / experience in the back line, or fatigue or many other reasons. Don't forget the Pies have overrun half the competition this season.

I think the Melbourne game is the one that gives us most hope.
Melbourne are the real deal.
They were fightying for a top 4 spot so had a lot to play for...
They came to play and we matched it with them in a four quarter effort in an intense finals type game.

We backed it up for a long time against another top 4 side with just as much to play for...and in fact dominated them entirely for a quarter.

Maybe we should be cautious, but at the same time don't dismiss totally the quality of the effort if not the execution of those last two games.

I agree. Those two games showed the progress as well as the work yet to be done. Basically 2 finals in a row with plenty of effort and good fight and extremely close to winning both.

We called the Tiges 'Ninthmond' for quite a while on this site.  Three flags later.....

Lessons are only good if they are learned.  Richmond got snarly because of it.  One can only hope.

We have to be proud of the effort.

I read an article today highlighting how unfair the draw is  in such a close season. We played three finalists twice, tigers played zero. Brisbane, Fremantle, Collingwood  Geelong and Sydney only played one. The Cats also played North and West Coast twice.