And a priority should be getting better at shutting down opposition surges from defence - i.e. teams winning the ball in our forward line and opening us up through the corridor - that’s when we look really vulnerable IMO.

I’m not without optimism for 2023, but I don’t share the popular view that we are on the verge. I reckon a lot of improvement is still needed and that it’s probable we won’t see it as soon as we hope we will.

Anyway, time will tell!

what's behind that? One of the best set shots in the game has to have a routine, surely?

"I always go out in warm-ups and have as many set shots as it takes before I feel like I'm in a bit of a rhythm. When you go out a bit cold, you don't feel like you're hitting them straightaway. The more I practice before the game, I'll get into a state where I know I'm hitting them all the time," Larkey explained.

"When you think about how many you hit in the warm-up, maybe you hit 18 out of 20, the chances are when I get the ball on the ground I'm going to put the ball through. It's a mentality thing. It's a state of mind that I get in before the game and it helps me when I do get my opportunity.

"I feel like I've got a sense of duty to finish off the work, as well. I'm that last link down there. All of the boys have done all of the hard work to get the ball to me. You have to finish it off. I just need more shots, because I feel like I'm going to put them through."

Keep winning

Injury likely having a big impact, but good that the club is still getting wins on the board:

Sportsday
@SENSportsday
"They've gone from the fourth most potent scoring side from clearance (last year) to 18th so far."

- Daniel Hoyne with a watch on how Carlton's midfield is going

just gone through our fixture, we will be lucky to get three wins before the bye - west coast, suns and druggies. we wont make the 8

I don't think we will either.
It annoys me that other clubs have gone past us.
We just seem to be going nowhere.

(1) Have a reasonable run with injuries. Last year’s injury list was diabolical. A decimated defence for months followed by a decimated midfield to end the season. Not many teams can deal with consistent injuries in terms of the sheer numbers we had on the injury list and the quality of some of the injured players. Unfortunately not off to the best start on this front already for 2023.

(2) Improved mentality. Basically everything Mick said above. Step on the throat and don’t relent when you’ve got a team on the ropes (eg Hawthorn and Port last year). Step up in high pressures situations eg last 3 mins vs Melbourne and last 15 mins vs Collingwood. Reality is our guys hadn’t played a truly high stakes game for years until the last few rounds of 2022. Hopefully they understand that every moment counts now after the way they finished 2022. Can’t have big lapses in games and games where we don’t play close to our required level eg Adelaide at AO last year.

Leadership is about what you do, not what you say.
Some of our on-field leaders failed the test at times last night. That will need to change to take the next step.