Time was, not so long ago, we were the laughing stock. I am pleased to report that in football nothing is black and white (well except some clubs always get ahead of themselves and shoot – or drive across – themselves in the foot).

Time was, we fielded a side with more holes in it than a Hollywood remake. Time was, we were coached as if we were playing in the old millennium. Time was, I headed to a game hoping the lads would put up a brave showing, to not have a 100-point flogging, to at least get to half time with a mild enjoyment in the match.

This week I am gutted. We should have won that game! I expected us to win that game! Against the Crows, over there with them fighting for a place in the eight. I still expected to win.

And re-watching that game three times on that small canid network I have yet to change my mind – we should have won! The boys had them on toast, made the crows sitting ducks and couldn’t put them away. Inches from home, we crashed!

I am gutted and angry, its not like we’ve been lied to, its not like the club had fed us some cock and bull story about our greatness without having achieved anything, but I did expect the lads to win that game.

And this more than anything this year, highlights that we have turned the corner and are headed back home. Finally, I expect to win. Finally, a honourable loss is not good enough. We may be a long way back but we have started the climb, we have shifted out of park and into first gear, and so long as we keep our eyes firmly on the road and do not get ahead of ourselves, or get led astray by false lures along the way back home to September action, we will make the finals soon.  To do it though, we must win; we must start putting wins together.

I was pleased with the efforts of some of the kids – particularly with some of the stars being held. I think Tex has made an excellent return given how much footy he has missed. Tex does not get beaten and brings intensity to the side. Has the heart of Phar Lap, does our Tex. Thought JR’s first quarter was excellent. Griggs was good too.

In the end, I think that our defence was just too inexperienced, and that’s the trouble with the road back to the top. You have to juggle the importance of games and the importance of development. Austin, Jammo, Armfield and Browne  - we are getting important games into them and this will stand us in good stead next season. On the weekend though, I thought our defence was just a little bit too inexperienced.

Still I liked what I saw and still believe if we had kicked straight we would have won. Having said that, I hope the boys are not falling for the three-card trick of expecting a come from behind win every time they run out onto the ground. Again, it’s all about balance. Go too far one way and you trip over your own feet like a sad old drunk at the town hall dance.

No more sneaking home for a win, no more leaving it until the wee small hours of a Sunday  arvo’  before deciding to play the game. No more passengers either, hidden players who do not stand up when the heat is on but lie low and wait for the star players to lift and drag them over the line. The side needs to put four quarters together, needs to set themselves for a long haul and play each quarter as if it is the last.

Which brings us to this week. Port gives us the chance to do this. Port is not a strong team, they are dangerous if we get ahead of ourselves but really it’s a game we should win, it’s a game where we should set out to win each quarter. It’s not about a grand standing final quarter come back, but a 4 quarter effort where everyone commits to each contest as if it were their last – after all who knows when you might be pulling on the Old Dark Navy for the last time.

So I expect Fev to come out revved up this week and creating havoc with the Port defence, smashing into their defenders like so many parked cars. I think our midfield will run riot and party like it’s 1999! I also think our defence can hold their forwards to a losing score. We must concentrate for the entire game or we will wreck the slim chances of making the eight that still remain. No more looking in the rear view mirrors at what has happened but heads down, bums up, and win this game.

This game should be a sure thing so long as we keep it nice and simple. Lose and we may as well play in the heath for the remainder of the season, we’ll have ruined this chance by not taking stock of where we are at and come out all guns blazing. This is it, this is our waterloo – after this there are no more chances, just the rest of the season to play out.

Tex to play a blinder.
Fev for 8
Murph BOG.

Go Blues!

Please Note: the views expressed in the above article are solely the opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Carlton Football Club or those employees of the Club. The Carlton Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of those supporters who contribute to carltonfc.com.au.