BLUES TO BE A TEST

LAST week’s one-point loss to Brisbane Lions was pretty disappointing for us because we felt it was a game where we had full control. We didn’t look like losing until the Lions got in front with two minutes to go in the last quarter, but we will take a lot of positives out of that match. Going forward, we think we will be better off because of it and when we find ourselves in a similar situation with a tight lead in bigger games in September that we can hold on to our advantage. Brisbane was really good on the day but if we happen to cross the Lions in finals, which is a good chance of happening, we will be confident we can turn the result in our favour after last week’s game. But while the finals are a focus, we are not taking Carlton lightly this week. The Blues seem like a very different team after the bye and they are playing really strong footy and backing their system in. They play an attacking brand of football and are really strong around the ball, and some of their experienced classy players, like Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow, have gone back in the middle and everyone knows what Patrick Cripps can do around the ball as well, so it is going to be another strong midfield battle.

There will be some really good contests all over the ground and we are looking forward to the challenge they will present.

For us, it is important that we play our best brand of footy though as well.

Heading into finals we have to go about our business the right way and finish the season feeling really good about ourselves and confident in our form.

This is the last chance for us to work on our game and get all of the little things right for when we play in a big match, which is when the heat steps up even further again.

It is disappointing for us that this is our last chance to play at GMHBA Stadium and that we won’t get a home final because we know our fans would love it and the players would, too.

We train down here, we believe we have turned the ground into our fortress and play here really well.

But if we can get the win against Carlton then in two weeks we will embrace the challenge of playing in a big game and will look forward to getting up to the MCG to give it a red hot crack.

We know that is a big if, though, so from 4.35 today our only focus will be playing our best footy, which will hopefully be good enough to get the four points.