Carlton’s Struggles Continue as Coach Calls for Resilience
Carlton coach Michael Voss has called on his players to show more fight and determination in an effort to turn around their AFL season after another disappointing second-half performance. The Blues, who led by 18 points in the second quarter against St Kilda on Saturday night, collapsed in the third term, conceding eight goals to just one. This poor showing ultimately led to a 16.12 (108) to 9.15 (69) defeat, leaving Carlton at 1-7 ahead of their upcoming clash with reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba on Friday night.
Voss expressed frustration over the team’s recurring pattern of fading during crucial moments in games. “It’s been a familiar pattern,” he said. “Centre square bounce, four or five free kicks against us… and then the ability to defend when we’re under pressure isn’t at the level it needs to be.”
He highlighted that the lack of defensive strength over the course of a game is holding the team back. “Defensively, we’re not strong enough for long enough over the course of a game, and it’s holding us back.”
During the third term, Carlton managed just six tackles, and they were outplayed in the midfield by St Kilda. This performance led Voss to question the attitude and work rate of his players. “We put ourselves in position to win the game, so that message seems to be working pretty well, but our ability to do it for a longer period of time is not at the level it needs to be at.”
He emphasized the need for resilience when the game turns against them. “When the game is against you, you need to defend and you need to fight – and we are not doing it well enough.”
A Challenging Start
This loss marks Carlton’s sixth consecutive defeat, which is their worst start to a season since a 1-10 record in the 2019 campaign. That poor performance ultimately led to the dismissal of former coach Brendon Bolton.
Voss, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is under increasing pressure but has refused to speculate on his future. “I will go home, I will have a look at the game, review it and I’ll turn up on Monday,” he said. “I’ll be really clear on what we need to be able to get after, and then we dive into the week, and we find those marginal things to be able to get better next week.”
He added, “What circles around it is not for me to speculate on. What we will do is get after what needs to be improved at.”
Injury Updates and Team Adjustments
Voss confirmed that vice-captain Jacob Weitering should be fit to take on the Brisbane Lions despite a minor injury. However, key defender Harry Dean is set for scans to assess the severity of his groin injury.
Meanwhile, George Hewett, who has been struggling for form, may be considered to strengthen the on-ball unit, which underperformed against St Kilda. The coach is looking for small improvements that can make a big difference in the coming weeks.
As the Blues prepare for their next challenge, Voss remains focused on the task at hand, urging his team to learn from their mistakes and find the resilience needed to turn their season around.
