The first week of the 2023 finals series has played out and Nathan Buckley has put together his five takeaways in The Buck Stops Here.
GWS' performance, Brisbane's dominance, accuracy in front of goal, Melbourne's selection headaches and Carlton's make-up were on Buckley’s mind after the Qualifying and Elimination Finals on SEN Breakfast.
Read his thoughts below:
Speed kills as GWS impress on the MCG
“I’m going to start with who I thought were one of the most impressive performers of the weekend and that was the GWS Giants.
“I just thought they've handled this travel idea, this hit-and-run mentality.
“It's the 11th venue they've won at this year, and they've embraced all of their challenges.
“Adam Kingsley was super impressed with his boys and so he should be.
“At Round 10 they were 3-7. That’s a long time ago now.
“The thing that struck me is they are quick, they are quick over the ground and speed kills.
“I think the Giants are a real show against Port because Port are banged up.
“The speed over the ground you’ve got (Lachie) Whitfield and (Lachie) Ash at the back and you've still (Connor) Idun got a there who's keeping who's keeping (Nick) Haynes out of the best 22.
“(Josh) Kelly through the midfield was huge. (Brent) Daniels and (Toby) Bedford as those high forwards that get all the way up and all the way back, they put speed on the ball, they defend really well, they put speed on the ball.
“Then you've got (Jesse) Hogan, (Jake) Riccardi, (Toby) Greene and (Callum) Brown, they've got a mix of forwards that are getting the benefit of this, this speed through the midfield and they don't just do it to attack, they do it to defend.
“They actually made the ball really hard to move, they control the midfield with their defence, and they compose themselves and conserve energy in their defence because it is so good that gives them that chance to springboard when they get the ball in their hands.
“That balance is good, and Adam Kingsley should be believing of his group because they're demonstrating it week in and week out.”
Youngsters, talls and mentality – Brisbane are in a great space
“The second one for me that stood out was Saturday night and the Brisbane bigs.
“I thought (Eric) Hipwood, (Joe) Daniher and (Oscar) McInerney in particular, I think they started exceptionally well and took Port to task really early.
“It was interesting, Chris Fagan's comments after about the falling short, how that's actually taught Brisbane and prepared them for the moments ahead.
“I think that's a great reflection. It's not common this time of year to be talking about your shortcomings or what hasn't worked for you.
“But I think when you can embrace both sides of it and you can accept that with the same mentality, it's really powerful to be able to be grateful for the opportunity in front of you.
“You loosen yourself up, you don't carry a lot of anxiety. So, I think Brisbane are in great shape.
“The other thing that stood out to me was the performance of their young players like Jaspa Fletcher.
“He jumped out of the box aerially, he ran hard, he saw key moments, he was able to take advantage of the times when the game opened up.
“(Darcy) Wilmot just got better and better and when Brisbane were headed, he became one of the most dominant players on the field in that last quarter and a half.
“Keidean Coleman too, so the three young guys that they've introduced, they really stood up.”
Bad kicking is bad footy
“The third part for me is just bad kicking is bad footy.
“Three of the sides that lost on the weekend had more shots on goal in transition than their opposition so, stoppage became really key.
“But key moments opportunities in front of goal, you need to take them and it's the most important kick in the game is to be able to finish when you get your opportunities, whether it's a snap or a set shot.
“Bad kicking is bad footy.
“Dane Swan, I love reading his stuff. He's got tongue-in-cheek all the time.
“When the Carlton v Swans game is playing, he said, ‘I can't wait to see who Collingwood are playing in the expected score Semi Final this week’.
“Melbourne would have won on expected score but in the end, it is a reality.
“To get 69 inside 50s and not finish … like Bayley Fritsch is one of the better finishers, either in general play or set shots but he was a little off.
“Kozzie (Pickett) had two snaps one in the third and one in the last, right at the death that he would normally gobble up.
“One of them was under not great pressure, it was perceived pressure and the other was under a little, but he's been able to finish at other times.
“I don't think Melbourne will be that worried because I think they just had one of those games where they just weren't able to finish, and I'm not overly concerned about it.
“The other one is, is obviously Todd Marshall, who's one of the better shots at goal across the competition this year and he just couldn't meet the moment. It’s going to be a challenge for him coming up again.
“It has a significant impact in the momentum of the group, the flow of the group, the belief of the group.
“When you've done work, you want to finish.
“There's always a little bit of anxiety around the final.
“You want to take advantage of your chances. If you don't take them, there can be a concern that they're not going to come around again because finals are marginal.”
The Dees will be ok as selection debate rages
“I think the Dees will be ok.
“Their midfield is up and going … they got jumped by Collingwood and that was the margin in the game…
“I just think you put in the most competitive medium-sized player that you can find.
“I don't think you do (go with Brodie Grundy). I don't think that's the answer.”
Read more: BUCKLEY STILL BELIEVES IN MELBOURNE AS DEBATE RAGES ON WHO REPLACES VAN ROOYEN
Carlton's bottom six stands up as Blues will back themselves against any opponent
“If you’re a Carlton obviously you're rapt, you've won a final.
“You've seen Patty Cripps, you've seen Charlie Curnow, you've seen all of these boys that are playing their first final after a significant time out of the finals.
“You've beaten, a side last year who went all the way to the Grand Final.
“I don't think Sydney were great. (Tom) McCartin did the job on Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay didn't have much to do.
“Callum Mills and Patrick Cripps was pretty much even, but I just thought that Carlton's bottom six were huge.
“I think Brodie Kemp is a really good player, he did his role really well.
“Alex Cincotta is a player who just wins his one-on-ones. Matt Cottrell had 17 touches. He had two goals and 13 touches in the first half he was probably the most impactful player on the ground at that stage.
“Blake Acres was not going to play this game two weeks ago with his collarbone and ended up being significant, but I wouldn't put him in the bottom six.
“They left Zac Fisher out who'd been getting 30 touches a game off halfback, they left Ollie Hollands out who's a younger player to bring Sam Docherty in to play on the wing.
“Jesse Motlop played as the sub ahead of Paddy Dow, who's played a really important role.
“But the coaching staff at Carlton decided that we want the biggest, strongest 22 we possibly find.
“A team that we know is going to stand up in the contest. A team we know is going to go for second, third and fourth efforts and every individual is going to empty everything of themselves.
“There's not going to be any half efforts.
“I think that that was the primary reason that they were able to get the job done and it's a reason why they'll give themselves a chance against any opposition.”