So how do you strike the balance of, as you mentioned, you did so much right in the back half of the year?

Yeah, overall, I think the character shown of the group is where we want this thing to head and the direction that Fraser's given us with getting to work each week on our game.

And as you know, Jimmy, it's like these things, you've got to keep on getting at it for years and really playing together.

And I thought our team footy's come a long way, but overall, things like the fundamentals of the game and... probably just the ability to know when to defend really strongly, we can keep working at.

So do you feel like that's where you sit or the back half of the year you were seen as top four, top five's team? How do you judge the season in that sense?

Yeah, it's obviously a unique season for the fact that coach changed fairly through the middle of that time and the amount of work that we put in to put ourselves in that position.

I do think that we're a better team than that, but at the end of the day, this is where it's landed.

Overall, I think the ability for us is know what our identity is, how we want to play, and I think you could really see that in the back half of the year and probably a bit of feedback as well.

So do you feel like that's where you sit or the back half of the year you were seen as top four, top five's team? How do you judge the season in that sense?

Yeah, it's obviously a unique season for the fact that coach changed fairly through the middle of that time and the amount of work that we put in to put ourselves in that position.

I do think that we're a better team than that, but at the end of the day, this is where it's landed.

Overall, I think the ability for us is know what our identity is, how we want to play, and I think you could really see that in the back half of the year and probably a bit of feedback as well and maybe the wet weather games we haven't quite handled that as well as we could have so that's probably another thing going forward.

Yeah

that was raced tonight we're just talking off air about that like how does what could you do differently Hawthorne you got exposed and tonight a little bit what do could you do differently in a wet weather game?

Yeah, I think probably as a mid, sometimes when it's a wet weather game, you feel like you can try and impact everything and you lose a fair bit of shape off the back of that.

And then it also forces the guys on the outside to get caught in two lines.

yeah

they're rocking up to train excited about like how am i attacking this and um it actually creates a i think a calmness on game day it's like um we're coming with that edge each training session so um so you're saying you didn't have that focus prior or fraser just really dialed in on it i think he's really dialed in on it yeah and when a coach like gets to the point where vossi was been been there four years and sometimes it's just hard when the pressure's coming down on you to um Would you feel that internally as players? Yeah, the pressure for any team is always there to perform.

I think we were probably holding on tight too.

It's just like we want to be a good team.

But Fraser's narrowed it down into one or two things that – we can bring it back to on game day.

So work on stuff during the week and then have a bit of an eye on what's our identity on show.

And I mentioned last night getting interviewed after the game.

I

It felt like that if you guys were gonna have a big impact tonight, then, uh, it was gonna go Blues' way.

Yeah, thanks Joel.

As, as you know, it take, takes an army in there, and I think all year, like, uh, just different guys being able to stand up.

We all got our own strengths that we bring to the midfield, and I feel like if you've got the bulls like Crippa and George crashing in, and then man Jag, Jag's ready to scoop up on the outside, um, it's hard to stop.

And then you've got Cooper Lord, who does a terrific job on Kozzie, 'cause you know how dangerous he is.

So, um, thought the game was set up really well by the coaches, and, um, up to us to execute.

Does Jagar kind of remind you of yourself when you first started out, just that professionalism probably, uh, beyond, beyond the years?

Yeah, he's huge.

Um, it must be great for you, and it must feel great moving forward that you've locked this in and can now just concentrate on playing the best football you can for the Carlton Football Club.

Yeah, spot on, Mick.

That's probably, uh, been the main thing is, um, I was pumped to get it done before the start of the year just to be able to get stuck into the footy, and then to be able to commit to the club for so long.

It's, um, really exciting and, um, I feel like individually I can bring a lot to the group, but, um, I do feel like we can build something strong and, um, knowing that I've got the security of eight years, and it's always been my dream to play AFL footy, so to know that, um, I'm going into my eighth year now and got eight more to go, it's only halfway, so, um, a lot of exciting times ahead, hopefully.

Um, I suppose the question for you, in that eight years, you'll ex- you'd expect to see a premiership, right? Is this is where the Carlton Football Club is, is heading?

Yeah, that's the goal.

Um, there's been, um...

Obviously, it's well documented, a bit of change at the club, but, um, also some, some tougher years, probably, uh, the past two.

You played for the draw in the end, Sam.

Yeah, it's, um, it's obviously a bit of a weird feeling, to be honest.

Um, but to look bigger picture, it's, it's a, uh, great feeling to be able to qualify for wildcard.

Um, so that was definitely acknowledged.

But yeah, it was definitely an arm wrestle.

Like, um, credit to the Doggies, the pressure they brought and, um, we knew we were gonna be in a fight all game and, um, thought our ability to respond when they went a couple up late was, um, was really good.

And, um, I think late we handled that moment well.

What is it like inside the club? Is the club and those, the board making the decision, coming to any players and asking your, what you would prefer, if you would like him in that position?

Sam.

Yeah.

It's, um, it's obviously a bit of a weird feeling, to be honest.

Um, but to look bigger picture, it's, it's a, uh, great feeling to be able to qualify for wildcard.

Um, so that was definitely acknowledged.

But yeah, it was definitely an arm wrestle.

Like, um, credit to the Doggies, the pressure they brought and, um, we knew we were gonna be in a fight all game and, um, thought our ability to respond when they went a couple up late was, um, was really good and, um, I think late we handled that moment well.

Hey, Sam, Will Hayward got up high, but did you see how high Paddy Cripps got up in about the same spot not that long after?

Vice captain, tell me what was the message from Josh Fraser?

Yeah.

Fras was, uh...

Yeah, I think he, he handed it over to us, first of all, and what we felt went wrong in, wrong in the game, and then had a bit of a discussion.

But, um, probably a few factors.

Uh, I think they, they brought the pressure and, um, at times we, we didn't handle that as well as we would've liked.

And, um, then probably shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit with probably not seeing the ground and seeing that they're pretty clinical like, like going end to end.

Just stopped your, your ball movement to use that part of the sort of long down the line.

Uh, vice-captain, tell me what was the message from Josh Fraser?

Yeah, Fras was, uh, yeah, I think he, he handed it over to us first of all and what we felt went wrong in, wrong in the game, and then had a bit of a discussion.

But, um, probably a few factors.

Uh, I think that they brought the pressure and, um, at times we, we didn't handle that as well as we would've liked.

And, um, then probably shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit with probably not seeing the ground and seeing that they're pretty clinical by, by going end to end.

And, um, they're the things that we've gotta keep on getting to work on.

Um, I still think we gave ourselves good looks at times, but, uh, not for long enough tonight.

Just stopped your, your ball movement to use that part of the sort of long down line.

Can you give us a little bit of an insight into the four walls?

Yeah, the big thing with Fraze is we've obviously been working pretty hard on our system since pre-season and I think the thing that he's kept on adding as well is just how we look damaging and how we bring our strengths to the game and from there I think he's really good with his relationships and gives guys confidence and The biggest thing as well, I think we were probably at the start of the year holding on a bit tight.

So when there's moments there like there was at the third quarter, you've got option to choose to keep going at the game or sort of go back into your shell.

And I think as leaders, we've tried to change that mindset and really drive the game forward and keep attacking it.

Yeah, week by week instead of having a focus on finals.

Yeah, it's obviously for us it hasn't even come into our conversation.

The best thing that we've been focused on is how can we get better each week and we were probably a bit disappointed with quarters of footy against Essendon and I thought the way that we come out of the bye and trained pretty hard during the week and even after tonight there'll be growth so I think if you keep on looking at that you sort of stay in the zone and At the end of the day, I feel like if you force things and talk about trying to do it, then it rarely happens.

You've got to worry about what you bring to the table.

Can you give us a little bit of an insight into the four walls?

Yeah, the big thing with Fraze is we've obviously been working pretty hard on our system since pre-season.

And I think the thing that he's kept on adding as well is just how we look damaging and how we bring our strengths to the game.

And from there, I think he's really good with his relationships and gives guys confidence.

And the biggest thing as well, I think we were... probably at the start of the year holding on a bit tight so when there's moments there like there was at the third quarter you've got option to choose to keep going at the game or sort of go back into your shell and I think as leaders we've tried to change that mindset and really drive the game forward and keep attacking it.

week by week, instead of having a focus on finals.

Yeah, it's obviously, for us, it hasn't even come into our conversation.

The best thing that we've been focused on is, like, how can we get better each week, and We were probably a bit disappointed with quarters of footy against Essendon.

Does that change the mindset and do you have to adjust and might that have contributed to a A first half that wasn't quite what you would have expected?

I thought the coaches set up the week really well in terms of where our mindset needs to be.

I think the best thing for our group, I would say the whole year, but even Fraser's trying to focus on getting better every day.

Out of the Geelong game, even though it was a great win, we thought we still had areas to work on.

Early in the first quarter, I thought probably Essendon gave us a few different looks, spread the ground really hard.

I thought they got a lot of numbers back and we didn't quite squeeze up and In AFL footy, if you give teams time and space, they'll pick through you and make you look like you're probably sitting off a bit defensively.

So I thought we tried to adjust there and our ability to hold on and probably stay within that two-goal margin really paid us back late.

Do you think as time goes on, he might be forced to reconsider?

... does that change the, the mindset and do you have to adjust and, you know, might that have contributed to a, a first half that wasn't quite what you would've expected?

Oh, I thought the coaches set up the, the week really well in terms of where our mindset needs to be, and I think the best thing for our group, um, I would say the whole year, but even Fraser's s- trying to focus on getting better every day.

So out of the Geelong game, even though it was a great win, we thought we still had areas to work on.

You know, early in the first quarter, I thought probably Essendon give us, gave us a few different looks, spread the ground really hard.

I thought they got a lot of numbers back, and we didn't quite squeeze up.

And in AFL footy, if you give teams time and space, they'll pick through you and ma- make you look like you're probably sitting off a bit defensively.

So tr- thought we tried to adjust there, and our ability to hold on and, um, probably stay within that two goal m- margin really paid us back late.

Do you think, uh, as time goes on, he might be forced to reconsider?

There's a whole lot, you know, the media, but then just from within s- the club going through the game, and then we'll talk about it because that fourth quarter, everything just seemed to be let out, and it was a whole lot of fun, and the fans clearly loved it.

Yeah.

As you can probably hear in the mic now, they're all getting around Jack Ison.

So provided a lot of energy for us late in that last quarter.

But, um, yeah, just in general, probably the start of the week is, um...

Look, it's never easy seeing, uh, a coach who've had four and a half years, um, choose, choose to, um, finish up his time.

But I thought the way he exited really helped it just for this week because he didn't carry on at all.

What, what has some of those conversations been like this week?

There's a whole lot, you know, the media, but then just from within s- the club, going through the game, and then we'll talk about it because that fourth quarter, everything just seemed to be let out, and it was a whole lot of fun, and the fans clearly loved it.

Yeah.

[crowd cheering] As you can probably hear in the mic now, they're all getting around Jack Icen, so provided a lot of energy for us late in that last quarter.

But, um, yeah, just in general, probably the start of the week, it, um...

Look, it's never easy seeing, uh, a coach who've had four and a half years, um, choose, choose to, um, finish up his time, but I thought the way he exited really helped it just for this week because he didn't carry on at all.

It was, um, the leader he is, and then for Fraise to come in and set the standard and say, "Uh, we're gonna move on quick and, and get after a few things." And, um, we've still got a long way to go, but, um, if you wanna create winning habit- habits, you just gotta, you gotta also win.

So it's nice to get that on the board.

What, what has some of those conversations been like this week?

There's a whole lot, you know, the media, but then just from within the club, going through the game, and then we'll talk about it because that fourth quarter, everything just seemed to be let out, and it was a whole lot of fun, and the fans clearly loved it.

Yeah, as you can probably hear in the mic now, they're all getting around Jack Ison, so provide a lot of energy for a slate in that last quarter.

But, yeah, just in general, probably the start of the week, it's never easy seeing a coach who's had four and a half years choose to finish up his time but I thought the way he exited really helped it for this week because he didn't carry on at all.

The leader he is and then for Fraser to come in and set the standard and say we're going to move on quick and get after a few things and we've still got a long way to go but if you want a great win in habits you've got to also win so it's nice to get that on the board.

What has some of those conversations been like this week?

Yeah, thanks for that.

I think as a leadership group, the main thing is that you want to set the example for the way you want to attack the week of training and then within game days at the moment, we probably found that we probably could be staying connected for 120 minutes and I thought today we did that our best.

Even when we were down on the scoreboard, there was still a lot of talk and Some of Kripa's moments, I thought Wade was in the back line, like you just noticed him all through the four quarters and when those guys are leading the charge it really makes up the stand for the loss.