Mick Malthouse on Carlton’s issues and how Michael Voss can avoid scrutiny from off-field ‘heavy hitters’

AFL legend Mick Malthouse knows all too well the pressure that comes at Carlton when the team is underperforming, so what advice would he give to Michael Voss right now?

Michael Voss.

Round 23 last year, Carlton lost to Collingwood in the dying seconds of the game by a point, the only time the Magpies were in front for the whole match. The result denied the Blues a spot in the finals.

It was a Carlton supporter’s worst nightmare, and like Christmas for a Collingwood fan.

Ten rounds into this season and the Pies are on top of the ladder … and the Blues are still ninth.

So, what is wrong with Carlton?

There is a disconnect at the Blues. A severe lack of leadership.

Michael Voss and Craig McRae, former Brisbane Lions teammates, have knowledge and experience. And they are polar opposites.

One is a very dominant bull in the paddock. Michael Voss played a brutal, talented game of football and took no prisoners, and he coaches the same way.

The other wasn’t as dominant a player, but was just as effective. Craig McRae’s coaching style is gentle and all inclusive.

Mick Malthouse coached Carlton for 52 games.

Players from both clubs have gelled with their coaches and adopted their game structures well. Collingwood is premiership favourite and for all intents and purposes Carlton looked like a finals team last year, and, it seemed, a certainty to play in September this year.

But something’s gone wrong.

While there is almost a carnival-like atmosphere pre and post-game in the happy Pies’ rooms, as they continually find a way to win, things are becoming very negative at the Blues.

The club’s supporters and media are coming hard at Voss, and he must make sure the board doesn’t come at him, too. I know what it’s like. I’ve been there. There’s a lot of outside heavy hitters who won’t put themselves on the board but like to have their opinions heard, nonetheless.

Michael Voss, Craig McRae and Justin Leppitsch as premiership teammates.

Their influence is strong, so the president Luke Sayers and CEO Brian Cook must be stronger.

There isn’t enough internal support being relayed externally. In other words, Sayers and Cook need to stand up to the bullies and speak up for Voss and Patrick Cripps. Now.

Carlton has a poor history of turning on its own. Cook has credibility on his side from his success at West Coast and Geelong. Strength from within the football club may hold off the doubting Thomases from outside the club and keep their negative influence at bay.

The only team led better collectively than Geelong, is Collingwood. The Pies have on-field leaders everywhere. They set high standards and speak the right words.

Patrick Cripps leads Carlton off after losing to St Kilda.

You only need to listen to interviews with the likes of Beau McCreery, Josh and Nick Daicos, and Mason Cox, to know they all sing from the same hymn book chosen by Darcy Moore, There’s also Brayden Maynard, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe – across the board you see Magpie players take charge on the ground. If Moore has goals kicked on him, Maynard jumps in. If Adams is flat, Jordan De Goey steps up. If Jamie Elliott is down, Brody Mihocek takes over.

It’s good to have good players, but it’s better to have good leaders.

The game is never over until the final siren for Collingwood because the Pies can dig themselves out of any hole as they have a host of players who can take over from the skipper to lift their teammates.

That’s not the case at Carlton. Cripps stands alone. Elevated by the club, supporters, and the media, he is not always going to have the perfect game, so he needs backup.

Collingwood is flush with leaders but where are Carlton’s?

The Pies like to identify the leaders of the opposition and hammer them out of the game, leaving their opponents like a chook with no head. That means that on Sunday they will go after Cripps. The question is: who will come to his rescue?

Sam Docherty is a lovely bloke and a good defender, but he doesn’t change the course of the game with his leadership. Jacob Weitering is one of the leading backmen in the league, but he is so seriously quiet you’d struggle to hear him from a foot away. So, where’s the Blues’ next leader? Charlie Curnow? Harry McKay?

Sam Walsh is an extraordinary player, but as he continues his path back from injury can he accumulate disposals and rouse the team?

George Hewett and Adam Cerra are each into their second season at the club. It can take time to find your feet and your voice. But in the same time frame, former Swan Jordan Dawson made it known to his Adelaide teammates and coach that he was a leader, and has been appointed captain. And a good one at that.

Harry McKay’s goalkicking has become a major problem.

Mitch McGovern has been at the Blues even longer and offers little leadership. Jack Silvagni shows such little emotion that even a Carlton goal isn’t celebrated by him.

When the Blues were running hot against West Coast a fortnight ago, everyone wanted a kick and everyone got a kick. When things get hard, leadership is required, but no one at the Blues is putting their hand up to provide it.

It’s not just about voice, it’s about inspirational play, body language, putting your head on the block and making sacrifices to lift your teammates.

It’s the desire to do something inspirational for your team instead of hollowing out or crawling into a hole to let someone else do the work.

Jamie Elliott kicks the goal which booted Carlton out of last year’s finals.

When Carlton fails Cripps gets the finger pointed at him, but all good captains in the league get support from somewhere else on the field. Cripps is weighed down by a ton of doubt and indecision and he is an island in that team.

For a club that aspires to make the final eight it is criminal that the Blues are lagging so far behind in leadership.

Yes, Carlton’s game plan sometimes stutters and is not as fluent as it could be, and yes, more should be expected from McKay, but above all, for the Blues to improve this season it comes down to how many players are prepared to put their hands up – not in the changerooms or in front of the media, but when the opposition is taking hold of the game – to lead, inspire and support the players around them.

A team with no leadership isn’t likely to make finals. A team without leadership won’t win a final. Collingwood is the flag favourite, for this very reason. Carlton can watch and learn on Sunday.

Originally published as Mick Malthouse on Carlton’s issues and how Michael Voss can avoid scrutiny from off-field ‘heavy hitters’