Autopsy 2023 Semi Final Blues win a thriller!

Who played well for the Blues in the SF vs Melbourne?


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Have watched the replay 3 times after being at the game Friday night, still having trouble believing what I witnessed.

Dutchy as the sub and a first year player 💙

Not only was Holland creating movement to receive the Weitering kick but in that final 30 seconds his pressure on Hunter to stop the mark and then the follow up tackle to create a spillage... so impressive for a kid.

Cerra absolutely out on his legs in that smoother and follow up pressure against Lever, you can actually see his legs go on him and he just pushed through it... guts and heart.

Go blues.
 
Now that I've had a couple days to enjoy the win I think for me it was a game of moments.

Melbourne had theirs and failed to deliver on them

Last year we were the one lamenting those moments

Couple shoutouts;

Acres: I was worried he wouldn't pull up for this game and was actually worried he couldnt mark or take any contact to that shoulder in the first half. Being targeted by Melbourne on that weakness didn't help. But this man is just a warrior and nothing is going to stop him playing finals unless he is literally unable to turn up. Massive love and praise. He is the player of the finals for me and I suspect many others. This is how you become a cult hero remembered 20/30 years down the line.

Paddy Cripps & Docherty: They truly are the walking wounded at the moment but they are giving their everything. They may not be their best but they grab the moments that i talked about and delivered on them.

Weitering: He reminds me of Alex Rance so much sometimes. The fact he hasn't got an AA jacket at this point in his career is astounding. His form in the first half of season cost him this year but his form is the epitome of our season and shows why he is almost our most important player in some aspects. I have nothing but praise for this man and how he plays. 💙💙💙

TDK: He faded in the second half based off his first half dominance, but geez he will be the best ruckman/forward in the comp if he can play it across four quarters.

Hollands: I was vocal in the pre-game thread I didn't think he was the right choice for sub. I still think a centre clearance midfield player would have been handy with 10 minutes to go when we were being smashed in the clearances, but he proved me wrong. He can make a difference as the sub. The act on the wing when he lost body contact on Hunter and it looked like Hunter was going to run away with it was 🤌👏. He never gave up and that resulted in an amazing last ditch tackle and turnover. Massive props young man, finals pressure and you stood up 👏👏👏 Another key moment in the game

Obviously there were so many other players who could be mentioned; Motlop, Walsh, Newman, McGovern etc. But the above just reiterated that grabbing those key moments win you games

Couple areas we could improve on;

Cunningham - He's got a strong fan base on here but I'm not sold on him yet. But he has missed alot of footy so hopefully he gets better. My opinion is he gets caught up on possession numbers and trying to take people on when sometimes the hand ball release is the best option. I think in the off-season he should be Martin's shadow and try and model his game on his. He is quick, slippery and obviously has talent, I think if he trys to make his possessions count and has presence like Martin he could be scary good as a Half Forward

Chugga - I wanted him in for this game because I thought he was the best option available. Unfortunately he highlighted what most of us know, bringing a player who's underdone and has been out for a long period of time into a final is not the best option. He will give way this week and rightly so. I would also be annoyed if he got a SUB or Emergency spot over Dow. Maybe when he's in form, though i think they are different players with different skill sets and that he's more in line with Hewitt than Dow, but he is rusty and behind the pace of finals because he's had no games in the lead up.

But amazing win

Brisbane is going to be very hard but if we bring that never say die attitude again and take those key moments I think we have a fighting chance of winning it.
 

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Bit of fuss about nothing in this and other threads about who won or lost the game. Multiple things can all be true:

- We were unlucky to be missing H and Martin

- We were lucky that Melbourne failed to take the opportunities they had to close out the game

- We were good enough to take our opportunity when the moment presented

It's silly to get upset with media types for pointing out Melbourne's contribution to losing the game. It's true, it happened. No 2 minute grab is going to provide a comprehensive account of reasons for the result. By far the majority of the discussion since the final siren has been about how good we were, particularly in those last moments. I have no issue with the media rounding things out by also pointing out where Melbourne failed.
 
Now that I've had a couple days to enjoy the win I think for me it was a game of moments.

Melbourne had theirs and failed to deliver on them

Last year we were the one lamenting those moments

Couple shoutouts;

Acres: I was worried he wouldn't pull up for this game and was actually worried he couldnt mark or take any contact to that shoulder in the first half. Being targeted by Melbourne on that weakness didn't help. But this man is just a warrior and nothing is going to stop him playing finals unless he is literally unable to turn up. Massive love and praise. He is the player of the finals for me and I suspect many others. This is how you become a cult hero remembered 20/30 years down the line.

Paddy Cripps & Docherty: They truly are the walking wounded at the moment but they are giving their everything. They may not be their best but they grab the moments that i talked about and delivered on them.

Weitering: He reminds me of Alex Rance so much sometimes. The fact he hasn't got an AA jacket at this point in his career is astounding. His form in the first half of season cost him this year but his form is the epitome of our season and shows why he is almost our most important player in some aspects. I have nothing but praise for this man and how he plays. 💙💙💙

TDK: He faded in the second half based off his first half dominance, but geez he will be the best ruckman/forward in the comp if he can play it across four quarters.

Hollands: I was vocal in the pre-game thread I didn't think he was the right choice for sub. I still think a centre clearance midfield player would have been handy with 10 minutes to go when we were being smashed in the clearances, but he proved me wrong. He can make a difference as the sub. The act on the wing when he lost body contact on Hunter and it looked like Hunter was going to run away with it was 🤌👏. He never gave up and that resulted in an amazing last ditch tackle and turnover. Massive props young man, finals pressure and you stood up 👏👏👏 Another key moment in the game

Obviously there were so many other players who could be mentioned; Motlop, Walsh, Newman, McGovern etc. But the above just reiterated that grabbing those key moments win you games

Couple areas we could improve on;

Cunningham - He's got a strong fan base on here but I'm not sold on him yet. But he has missed alot of footy so hopefully he gets better. My opinion is he gets caught up on possession numbers and trying to take people on when sometimes the hand ball release is the best option. I think in the off-season he should be Martin's shadow and try and model his game on his. He is quick, slippery and obviously has talent, I think if he trys to make his possessions count and has presence like Martin he could be scary good as a Half Forward

Chugga - I wanted him in for this game because I thought he was the best option available. Unfortunately he highlighted what most of us know, bringing a player who's underdone and has been out for a long period of time into a final is not the best option. He will give way this week and rightly so. I would also be annoyed if he got a SUB or Emergency spot over Dow. Maybe when he's in form, though i think they are different players with different skill sets and that he's more in line with Hewitt than Dow, but he is rusty and behind the pace of finals because he's had no games in the lead up.

But amazing win

Brisbane is going to be very hard but if we bring that never say die attitude again and take those key moments I think we have a fighting chance of winning it.
I have two moments that takes it even simpler.
The first is when after a fairly dour struggle Melbourne decided it was over and they were home. (Yes clearly they actually do drink their own bathwater)

The massive moment for us was deciding not to accept that. (Guts and determination and never give up)

Awful coaching by Goodwin to not know thats how we play.
 
Bit of fuss about nothing in this and other threads about who won or lost the game. Multiple things can all be true:

- We were unlucky to be missing H and Martin

- We were lucky that Melbourne failed to take the opportunities they had to close out the game

- We were good enough to take our opportunity when the moment presented

It's silly to get upset with media types for pointing out Melbourne's contribution to losing the game. It's true, it happened. No 2 minute grab is going to provide a comprehensive account of reasons for the result. By far the majority of the discussion since the final siren has been about how good we were, particularly in those last moments. I have no issue with the media rounding things out by also pointing out where Melbourne failed.
I largely agree and want to enjoy the ride but did the footy show focus on the Pies luck last year because what I recollect is the fawning over Macrae
 

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Am I the only one who thinks Acres did the right thing by playing on?

Taking 30 seconds off the clock is something you do when you're already in front.

Going back and taking that kick over the mark from 10m further out under high pressure is not a certainty. And if you miss it - you've just sealed your own fate by wasting 30 seconds that you now need.

I'd much rather actually be in front and have to defend the lead for an extra 30 seconds.
 
Am I the only one who thinks Acres did the right thing by playing on?

Taking 30 seconds off the clock is something you do when you're already in front.

Going back and taking that kick over the mark from 10m further out under high pressure is not a certainty. And if you miss it - you've just sealed your own fate by wasting 30 seconds that you now need.

I'd much rather actually be in front and have to defend the lead for an extra 30 seconds.
Overthinkin’ it, Mate.
 
Am I the only one who thinks Acres did the right thing by playing on?

Taking 30 seconds off the clock is something you do when you're already in front.

Going back and taking that kick over the mark from 10m further out under high pressure is not a certainty. And if you miss it - you've just sealed your own fate by wasting 30 seconds that you now need.

I'd much rather actually be in front and have to defend the lead for an extra 30 seconds.
Fair call.
 
I largely agree and want to enjoy the ride but did the footy show focus on the Pies luck last year because what I recollect is the fawning over Macrae


It’s pretty much no respect from the audio/visual media that’s for sure

Tie No Respect GIF by Rodney Dangerfield
 
Win this week, the media will have no option

Win this week and they will be talking about how Brisbane fumbled their greatest chance at a premiership. Another game we can’t win, just a game that our opponents can lose.

I don’t mind if 17 other clubs lose the premiership to us this year. Would probably make it sweeter than winning it ourselves. Does that even make sense?
 

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