AFL Finals: Sam Docherty talks stunning return from injury, Blues’ elimination final loss

It wasn’t the fairytale Blues fans hoped for, but Sam Docherty’s return was a bright spot on a dark night for Carlton. And the veteran himself says, it’s onwards and upwards from here.

Returning hero Sam Docherty believes Carlton has what it takes to bridge the gap on the competition’s best sides despite a disappointing elimination final exit.

While Docherty’s incredible return after just 183 days from rupturing his ACL for a third time was the feel-good story in the lead-up to the Gabba clash with the Brisbane Lions, the postscript is about how far the Blues are off the pace.

Michael Voss’ team was humbled in the first half – they were down 60-0 midway through the second quarter – before at least rallying to end its season with a 28-point loss to the Lions, the same team who eliminated them in last year’s preliminary final.

Docherty said Saturday night’s inconsistent performance summed up the Blues season.

“Tonight sort of typifies our season, overall very inconsistent throughout our performance and throughout the season. Then again inconsistent in what we were trying to do and what we were trying to implement,” he said.

Docherty’s return was a bright spot on a dark night for Carlton. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It was a frustrating night but we have full belief in the group we have got and what we are trying to implement. We know it stacks up in big games, it has this year, it has last year.

“We believe in what we have and what we need to do but the last couple of years has shown us the gap we need to close. We’re pretty aware of what we need to do.

“Our ability to consistently implement our habits and our behaviours throughout games of footy, blocks of footy, seasons of footy, that is the difference between the best and the guys who are sitting behind them.

“We’ve got a lot to work on as a group, what I do know is our group is pretty hungry for what we want to do. We have to get to work over the off-season and pre-season, make improvements in our game and our group and come back a better version of ourselves.”

Docherty, 30, said he needed a mental and physical refresh after an intense six months where he focused solely on playing again in 2024 after blowing out his knee in the Opening Round clash against the Lions at the Gabba in March.

“I’m proud to be able to get out here and play,” he said. “I cherish every game of AFL footy that I get to play as I have had a lot of them taken off me.

“A weirdly strange prep is in my DNA at the moment, as much as it was a weird week there was a sense of familiarity about it. I thought I was able to switch off, I was a bit scratchy early but I was able to work into the game.

“The body needs a good rest. I had the foot to the floor for six months to be able to get out here and play again, to have an opportunity to play with the boys and have an impact on the season.

“Unfortunately it didn’t go the way I would have liked it to in my head but I’m happy enough to be able to come out here and play AFL footy again.”

Docherty, whose incredible story includes beating cancer twice and coming back from three knee reconstructions, started on the wing and collected 16 possessions including a goal in the last quarter.

Sam Docherty and Will Ashcroft of the Lions shake hands prior to the elimination final. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While many questioned his selection – and Voss was almost in tears afterwards because of the admiration he felt for the veteran – Docherty said he never once doubted whether he was ready to play again.

“My life has taught me many things but one of the main things it has taught me is don’t worry about the sh-t that doesn’t matter,” Docherty said.

“I can control what I do and the amount of work I put in behind the scenes but I don’t gain anything from stressing about whether it is going to go again. I’m going to go out there to try and perform at a high level.

“I have done this a few times and it has taught me that to make myself anxious and stressed about what could happen and what might happen, that’s spending a lot of energy on things that don’t matter.

“I went out tonight with the sole intention of just playing my role for the team. I wasn’t going out there to be the best on ground, I was going out there to play my part.

“It’s funny, a lot of people probably stress about it but my whole life has taught me a fair few things and it certainly helped me out on this one.”

Originally published as AFL Finals: Sam Docherty talks stunning return from injury, Blues’ elimination final loss