With the pressure mounting, Carlton’s head coach Michael Voss has expressed his frustration following his team’s latest defeat, this time to Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.
While the Blues only trailed by a solitary goal at quarter-time, they managed to muster just 3.6 across the next two quarters, allowing the ladder leaders to score an impressive 12.6.
After delivering a stern talking-to to his senior players during the three-quarter time break, the Blues made some strides in the final quarter, but ultimately succumbed, finishing 8.11 (59) to 17.13 (115), marking their third consecutive loss.
When questioned after the match about the stability of his position, Voss responded that he wouldn’t “speculate beyond this week” before launching into a critique of his team’s lacklustre display.
“It’s evident that we need to engage in some significant discussions. We let our club down tonight,” he remarked.
Blues coach Michael Voss addressing his players during a break. Getty
“We want our fans to feel proud of us, and we failed to achieve that tonight. There’s a clear expectation of our playing style, and we completely missed the mark.
“This is something we must come to terms with, and I will address it directly. We need to own our mistakes. We have to accept this, as we cannot allow performances like this to continue. It was, quite frankly, unacceptable.”
When asked about his message to the leadership group at three-quarter time, Voss stated it revolved around the “standards” he desires from both himself and the players.
“What standards are we willing to accept and what are we actually expecting of each other at this time? What kind of feedback are we providing, and how straightforward do we need to be with it?”
The Blues looked dejected after their defeat by Collingwood on Friday night. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“In those moments, there’s a real sense of urgency to rectify things, and we failed to accomplish that. Engaging with the leaders was part of shaping that conversation and making a decisive choice about how we would finish the match.
“It was made clear at three-quarter time that we needed to conclude this game with strength. Unfortunately, we didn’t execute those actions during the critical middle phase and it significantly set us back. This has happened in previous weeks too.”
The Blues managed to win the last quarter, albeit by a mere four points.
Currently languishing in 11th place on the ladder and faced with a difficult run in, Carlton’s chances of securing a finals spot appear slim. However, Voss insisted that thoughts of finals football were “the last thing” on his mind.
Next up, they will take on the second-placed Lions, followed by matches against the Demons, Hawks, Dockers, Suns, Power, and Bombers.
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