And the Carlton Football Club has done just that to start off the 2023 season. Indeed, they are showing to be a strong dark horse to reach the finals! The team is flying high, sitting in third place on the ladder with a record of 4-1. They are excited to continue their deeply collaborative and ambitious work on this exciting momentum! RSL has strung together an impressive turnaround, both in form and results. One year it came in 14th place, the next 12th.
Under new head coach Mathew Buck, Carlton has committed to a higher-tempo style of play. This will be Buck’s third year at the helm, and his team is primed to be a game changer. Harriet Cordner signed on for the 2023 season. Her presence has supercharged the Wildfire’s insistence on getting the ball up the court in a flash. In their most recent fixture against Gold Coast, they displayed their style to perfection. All told, they outscored their opponents in the entire second half by a score of 7-0.
Left – Gab Pound, original player for Carlton and presently out injured. He’s just as excited to return to action as early as round seven or eight. With list player-anchor-at-the-mic, Tarika, retired, despite her absence, Pound has sounded hopeful notes about the team’s prospects this season.
“Early wins at the start of the season are so important for everything, for not only the points, but also the belief coming into the rest of the season,” – Gab Pound
Pound’s perspective captures the overall mood among the team as they head to the competition hoping to achieve something historic. Only Pound, Darcy Vescio and Breann Moody survive from Carlton’s 2017 team, showing just how much the personnel has changed. The loss of key players to expansion teams has shifted the team’s dynamics, yet the remaining players are determined to make their mark this season.
The team’s desire to sharpen their fundamentals has been the foundation of their workout routine. Pound observed that focusing on these fundamental elements has been the biggest key to their early-season success.
“We’ve added speed with the ball to our game plan, and I think you can see that. And so it’s fun to play in.” – Harriet Cordner
Carlton’s scorching beginning shakes loose recollections of their run in 2019. In 2020, they qualified for a preliminary final but horror set in when the season was cut short during finals by COVID-19. The team has continued their astounding winning streak, reeling off three straight wins. This spectacular streak increases their odds of making it into the finals and brings flickering hope back to fans.
The team’s depth in production has played a crucial role in the team’s early success. Pound commented on this development:
Carlton’s centered, pragmatic approach has him laser-focused on continuing to develop their success. Their sights are set on reaching the finals and competing for that championship crown. Their last grand final appearance in 2019 ended in a loss to Adelaide by 45 points at Adelaide Oval, witnessed by 53,034 fans.
“The depth that we’re running on the entire list is something that’s really exciting.” – Gab Pound
Today, Carlton is healthy and vibrant as all get-out. Under Buck’s stewardship and some key tactical switches, they are poised to make an exciting run to the finals! The next few rounds will be very important, since they are looking to build on and defend their positions, while trying to make use of their early-season breakthroughs.
With their current form and strategic adjustments under Buck’s coaching, Carlton is poised to make a strong run as they aim for another shot at the finals. The upcoming rounds will be crucial as they seek to maintain their position and capitalize on their early-season successes.
