Motlop thrilled the AAMI Stadium crowd with a high-flying mark on the centre wing and a goose-step goal around Blues defender Bryce Gibbs, but was also criticised for making a few blunders, including his decision to launch a torpedo inside50m at an important stage in the last quarter.
The freakish goalkicker admitted to doing some “bad stuff” against Carlton, but said he would continue to follow his instincts and play with his trademark flair.
“There are going to be games where there isn’t any magic there and there will be games where there’s a little bit, but I’m not going to change the way I play,” Motlop said on Wednesday.
“Everyone makes mistakes. I guess I just go for a bit more and sometimes it doesn’t come off. I don’t go out there and try to do it [play with flair] ... it just accidentally happens, but it comes off sometimes and you have to take the good with the bad.”
Motlop also copped criticism for a post-goal celebration that saw him walk over to the crowd with his arms outstretched.
The ex-North Melbourne forward said it was unfair for observers to single out that particular celebration and call him selfish.
“I was just trying to get the crowd involved. If you want to take that one [celebration] out, like someone in the media did and say, ‘go look to your teammates [instead of playing up to the crowd]’, well, 95 per cent of the time I do go to the bloke who kicked it to me or who laid the tackle,” he said.
“You’ve got to know when to draw the line, but I don’t really care what people think outside of the clubrooms and if the players start telling me not to do it, [only] then will it become a problem.”
Port Adelaide will take on Melbourne in Darwin on Friday night in the first of the club’s two games in the top end this season.
The Power are hopeful defender Nathan Krakouer will overcome a nagging groin complaint to make the trip, while tall forward Daniel Stewart is likely to be recalled after a strong performance in the SANFL.
Motlop, who hails from the Northern Territory, said he was looking forward to returning home and renewing a rivalry with a childhood friend.
“I’m pretty excited to get up there and to play against Melbourne. My best mate Aaron Davey plays for them and he’s from up there as well, so he’ll be looking to play good,” Motlop said.
“Our families will be sitting together, so I’m sure there’ll be a bit going on.”
Motlop, 28, still has a few good years left at AFL level, but is already plotting a career after football.
The skilful forward is a keen boxer and said he’d be keen to enter the ring when he finished up with the Power.
“I do like boxing. It’s my favourite sport outside footy and rugby league as well. If footy or rugby league comes my way after [AFL] footy I’ll go there,” Motlop said.
“I boxed a little bit as a kid. I do a little bit here at the club and I did a lot at North Melbourne. I do love boxing. I’ll see what happens after footy, but if Anthony Mundine asks me to fight before him I’ll fight before him.”
