Carlton’s Struggles Continue as Coach Calls for Resilience
Carlton coach Michael Voss has issued a strong message to his players, urging them to rise up and fight in an effort to save their AFL season. The Blues have struggled significantly in recent matches, with another disappointing second-half performance against St Kilda on Saturday night. Despite leading by 18 points in the second quarter, the team conceded eight goals to one in a disastrous third term, which ultimately led to a 16.12 (108) to 9.15 (69) loss.
This defeat leaves Carlton at 1-7 in the season, setting up a crucial clash against reigning premiers Brisbane at the Gabba on Friday night. Voss has expressed frustration with the team’s repeated inability to maintain their performance throughout the game.
“It’s been a familiar pattern,” Voss said of the team’s struggles. “Centre square bounce, four or five free kicks against us… and then the ability to be able to just continue to defend when we’re up against it isn’t at the level that it needs to be at.”
The lack of defensive strength has become a major concern for the Blues. In their worst third term, Carlton laid just six tackles and were heavily outmanned in the midfield. This performance has prompted 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 be able to do it for a longer period of time is not at the level it needs to be at,” Voss said. “When the game is against you, you need to defend and you need to fight – and we are not doing it well enough.”
Carlton’s current losing streak marks their worst start to a season since a 1-10 record in the 2019 campaign, which led to the departure of former coach Brendon Bolton. Voss, who is currently under contract until the end of the season, faces increasing pressure but remains focused on the task at hand.
“I will go home, I will have a look at the game, review it and I’ll turn up on Monday,” Voss 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. What circles around it is not for me to speculate on. What we will do is get after what need to be able to get better at.”
Voss also provided updates on key players ahead of the upcoming match. Vice-captain Jacob Weitering is expected to be fit for the game despite a minor injury, while fellow key defender Harry Dean will undergo scans to assess the extent of his groin injury. Meanwhile, George Hewett, who has been struggling for form, may be considered to strengthen the on-ball unit after a weak performance against St Kilda.
The Blues are now under immense pressure to turn their season around, and Voss has made it clear that the focus will remain on improving their defensive efforts and maintaining consistency throughout the game. With the team facing a tough challenge against the reigning premiers, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Carlton can salvage their season.
