Lance Franklin, Carlton players respond after horror showing against North Melbourne

Lance Franklin has saved Carlton and thinks the Blues need drastic change – and quickly. See what Buddy has said about the Blues’ looming call on Michael Voss.

Lance Franklin says Carlton coach Michael Voss will be sacked by season’s end, declaring change needs to occur “ASAP”.

The former Hawks and Sydney spearhead described the Blues as “terrible”, and said he believed the club was “not all on the same page”, pinpointing the coach.

“There’s going to be some big question marks on Vossy and whether he probably holds his job,” he said on the Buddy and Shane Podcast on Monday.

“That’s what I’d be looking at, because something needs to change at that club, whether it’s Vossy moving on, whether they trade out some players.”

Lance Franklin has called for the Blues to sack Michael Voss. Picture: Michael Klein

While Franklin, who played 354 games and kicked 1066 goals, said he believed the Blues “have got a pretty good list”, messaging was an issue.

“And I think there needs to be change,” he said.

“And we’ve said it before, we’re all about the players and coaches, but I think this is a change that needs to happen. And I think it needs to happen ASAP because the messaging is not getting through.

“All the Carlton supporters would probably say the same.

“There needs to be a change and it’ll probably happen in the next few weeks is my tip.

“It’s a big call, but that’s what I think will happen.”

The Blues fell short of North Melbourne on Saturday, which Franklin saying he felt his former mentor Alastair Clarkson was in great coaching form.

DEFIANT CRIPPS’ VOW AS HEAT RISES ON VOSS, BLUES

— Ed Bourke

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps says it’s on the players and not embattled senior coach Michael Voss to lift the Blues out of their ongoing slump.

Cripps urged frustrated Carlton supporters to “buy in and get behind us”, saying he understood their anger but wanted to maintain a united front after the Blues’ slumped to a 6-8 record with their shock loss to North Melbourne on Saturday.

“I don’t want to divide us versus the fans – I feel like it’s really important we stay together,” Cripps said.

Cripps is urging the fans to stay united. Picture: David Caird

“When times are tough, it’s the most important time to stay together and stay united.

“For a lot of years now, we’ve had that ‘stronger together’ mindset, and it’s easy to do that when we’re winning … it’s bloody hard to do that when you’re having tough losses.

“We’re sticking fat together … buy in and get behind us, we’ll turn it around. It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of effort, but we’re going to stay united.”

The dual Brownlow medallist was adamant he and teammates maintained full faith in Voss as senior coach.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of Vossy as a coach, also as a mentor and a friend,” Cripps said.

“He puts a lot of work into it along with the whole (coaching group) … that group’s very aligned.

“We’re in it together – we’re not going to point blame at anyone else, we’re going to take complete ownership, especially as players.

“ (Voss) has done a great job for us for a long time now, and I feel like as players, we need to aim up a bit more.”

Jacob Weitering is optimistic he will face the Power. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Cripps said the five-day break before Thursday night’s clash against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval was a blessing for the Blues, who wanted to immediately make amends for their dire second and third quarters against the Kangaroos.

Jacob Weitering, who also fronted the media on Monday, was not wearing a moon boot and said he was optimistic he would be fit to face the Power after playing through the Roos clash with an injured ankle.

“It’s pretty positive … I had a scan this morning, haven’t got the results yet so we'll try and figure that out as the day progresses,” Weitering said.

“We’ve got a day off (Tuesday), but I’ll be in (Tuesday morning) to try and get it right.

“I was able to make it through the game, and it feels pretty good.

“There’ll be some honest conversations I think, and we’d be silly not to look into, when the pressure comes on, what are we doing as players and as leaders, and it’s probably been a consistent theme throughout the start of this season.”

Cripps stayed on the outskirts of the Blues’ light training session with Harry McKay (knee) and Sam Walsh (foot), while Tom De Koning walked laps around the boundary with his left knee taped.

The Blues said it was not unusual for Cripps and De Koning to be managed during the first session of the week.

Weitering did not appear on the track, but full-forward Charlie Curnow trained fully.

Originally published as Lance Franklin, Carlton players respond after horror showing against North Melbourne