FIRST-year player Jesse Motlop has had a welcome start to the Carlton Football Club, winning four of the six games he’s played in his maiden AFL season.
The electric small forward has been loving working at the highest level, although he admits it was a bit of a shock to the system in his first few weeks.
Now in his eighth month at the Club, Motlop - who has kept his spot in the side after a late reprieve prior to Round 15 - is starting to find his feet and develop as a pressure small forward.
“Day one I didn’t think I was going to survive: there was a lot of running and I probably did half the running and I was at the back of the group, so I was struggling,” he said.
“Getting through the first seven or eight months now, it’s been physical changes with strength and running capacity, so it’s good to see that improving every week.
“You’ve got no time for breaks on that field so you’ve got to always be running, especially in our role relying on the pressure.”
Thriving being in an elite environment, the young forward is loving his time at the Club so far.
Arriving at the Blues as their sole selection in last year's 2021 NAB AFL Draft, the bubbly youngster is part of an emerging 'mosquito fleet': a group of small forwards that rely on their pressure game and ability to hit the scoreboard when the ball hits ground level.
Echoing the sentiments of best mate Corey Durdin earlier in the day, he said that while the goals may not always come, pressure is a non-negotiable in Michael Voss' side.
“I’m so stoked to be at this level, it’s something I’ve always dreamt of,” he said.
“You’ve got no time for rest, you’re always doing something and you’re always busy out on the field. It’s tough, but I’m loving every second of it.
“Our number one role in the team is to bring the heat to the opposition and really cause that delay and allow for our midfielders and backline to set up.
“It’s nice to get the footy in the hands and try and kick a couple of goals when we can, but when we’re not doing that, we’re providing that chase and the pressure."
"His go-to was that pressure was the one thing that would get you into the side... I'm pretty grateful for the opportunity that he has given me."
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) July 12, 2022
A message from Michael Voss stuck with Corey Durdin on the way to a breakout season.
For the first-year Blue, the messaging from AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss when it comes to the requirements of a small forward is clear and consistent: it's easy to know exactly what he wants.
On top of that, Motlop loves how calm and composed Voss is, always giving confidence to his younger players to play to their strengths.
“He just tells me the same thing every week: ‘go out there and provide that pressure and off the back of that, you’ll get the rewards’,” he said.
"He's just been a very calm and collective person, he really knows what he’s doing and where he wants this Club to go.
“Even as a bloke, he’s easy to talk to, he chats to all the players individually every week and he provides that confidence to us: he’s a ripping coach and a ripping bloke as well.”
Of course, the youngster is no stranger to the AFL landscape, continuing a family legacy which has seen a Motlop in the competition since 1998.
Having spent a lot of time with dad Daniel throughout his career, Motlop said some of his earliest memories took place in the changerooms at games with a Sherrin in hand.
"I was playing with my toys at the stadium and I can remember pieces of the Grand Final parade in 2007 when Dad played,” he said.
“I remember going into work with Dad, and hanging around with the Burgoyne boys and we were just in the change rooms and running amok.
“Coming in as a player this time, it’s a bit different. But day one, you’re definitely not starstruck of the environment and what it’s about.”
When it comes to continuing the strong legacy set by his father and uncles, Motlop would be lying if he said it wasn't something which he is mindful of.
Asked by Andrew Gaze who he watched vision of growing up, Motlop went with the sentimental - but obvious - answer.
"It was hard to go past Daniel Motlop!"
“I didn’t really appreciate him back in his day when I was a bit younger, but I grew up watching his highlights on Youtube: he’s definitely the all-round player I wanted to be.
“There’s definitely aspects of other players' games that I want to include in mine, but I guess Dad and continuing that legacy of the Motlop name is something I want to do and continue – I’m really excited by that.”
