Four points is four points, and no matter what transpired during the match, we got the four points in the end.
Social media and commentators have gone “off their chops” about how Carlton managed to scrape through. How Stephen May protested that the ball was touched, so because he protested, it must be so. Given that the Score Review held up the game for a while, the actual score was allowed to be a goal, and that did not sit well with not only May but also commentators who have stated that because he protested so much, and he doesn’t do this often, it must be touched. That is quite laughable, really, because how many other players say they touched the ball, and then a goal was allowed? Are they any more credible than May, or is it just because it’s a Melbourne player?
Then some say a Carlton player was given a free kick because they “staged” their head hitting the ground. A tackle was done; now explain this to me: how is a player supposed to stop their head from hitting the ground given the tackle it was? He had one hand on the ball, the other has pinned. Showing a bias during commentary proves to me, at least, why I have little or no respect for said commentators who cannot leave their bias at the door. Who favours one team continually. The game had issues all over the place in terms of illogical umpire decisions. Yet these are not discussed by commentators. So, besides that, let’s take apart the game and see it for what it is. For me, the game proves that we are not the team we have been in the past. Here’s why.
In the past, we have been a club that has languished near the bottom; Melbourne has not. In 2020, Melbourne finished 9th, we 11th. In 2021, Melbourne finished 1st, we 13th. 2022, Melbourne finished 2nd, we 9th. In 2023, Melbourne finished 4th, we 5th. Before 2020, we were a consistent club that was on the bottom of the bottom. Yet while Melbourne did finish 17th in 2019, we finished 16th, but that was one minor hiccup.
Simon Goodwin has been the senior coach for Melbourne since 2016, and Michael Voss has been the senior coach since the end of 2021. Vossy was appointed senior coach after what had been a tumultuous period for the club in terms of stability in its senior coach. While Melbourne has had stability in where it finishes, even winning one Premiership, besides 2019, the club has been knocking on the top eight door for a number of years, Carlton has not. It has only been in the past two years (not including 2024) that the club has been either in the top 8, or knocking at the door. Yet commentators and some supporters think that a club’s success, given the players they have, is simple and easy. That they have the knowledge to ensure that a solid lead from the start would be enough to secure a win. To do that, it takes time to learn, persistence, and a shock to come close to losing to know what to do down the track for the rest of the season.
We have been contending for the past two years and will continue to contend, given the players we have and who we could possibly acquire in the future. But for any team to step out of the turmoil that plagued Carlton in the past, consistency in its coaching group and administrators and a sense of this consistency in how to go about securing wins will ensure eventual success.
As mentioned earlier, this blog is not about singling out players from any match, although on Thursday night, some truly stepped up. It’s about a team that was once at the bottom, but is now steadily and diligently making strides towards that ultimate win. Thursday night’s victory against Melbourne was a testament to this progress.
On my way home, I overheard someone saying that if Carlton supporters believe this was a win to be proud of, then we are disillusioned. I couldn’t disagree more. I am far from disillusioned about the team and our current position. We have a lot to learn and grow in season 2024, and this will only make us a stronger team after the Bye. We are in a better position now than we have been in the past. So I will gladly take the four points and smile at the win, because I know where we have been and where we are headed.
#GOBLUES!
SPORTZ 