Carlton coach Michael Voss says the critics will come after being blitzed by Adelaide

Carlton had the chance to make a 2023 statement at the start of the AFL’s Gather Round but their performance will ensure the critics circle.

Carlton players walk off the Adelaide Oval. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

In the immediate aftermath of Carlton‘s surprise drubbing by Adelaide, Michael Voss warned his charges that they must accept every bit of criticism that comes their way after the Blues flubbed their lines on the big stage.

Carlton wilted under the intense spotlight of Thursday night‘s opening match of the much-hyped Gather Round at Adelaide Oval, conceding eight goals to the fired-up Crows in the first quarter to ultimately suffer the side’s first loss of the season by 56 points.

The night was made worse with ruckman Marc Pittonet subbed out in the second quarter with an eye injury, and defender Adam Saad forced to sit out the last 15 minutes of the match with a hamstring concern.

Marc Pittonet of the Blues suffered an eye injury. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Voss was desperately disappointed by the way that his midfield was beaten up at the contest and his defence leaked goals early as the Crows were rampant on their home deck to open the AFL’s “Gather Round”.

“We‘ll accept what comes our way, but we can’t do much about that now,” Voss said.

“We can only go about it in the coming week and prepare for the next opponent ... that‘s all we get the chance to do.

“What will be said will be said.

“Whatever (criticism) comes our way we accept that, but what we‘ve got to do is pick apart this around what worked and what didn’t then see what we can put into action immediately and there will be some other longer-term things that we need to continue to address.

“The importance of this particular round was discussed, the focus that this round brings, and we had a great opportunity to kick off this weekend.

“There was going to be extra focus and scrutiny on this game, and we were looking forward to that.

“That‘s not foreign to us now, we’re well supported, and we didn’t do the right thing.”

Michael Voss, senior coach of Carlton talks with his assistants at 3\\4 time . Pic: Michael Klein

Voss counted the successful return of Sam Walsh from off-season back surgery as one of few positives from the performance.

In his first game in eight months, Walsh had a team-high 25 possessions and kicked a team-lifting goal in the second quarter.

But even after Walsh had helped drag Carlton back into the contest after quarter-time, Voss bemoaned his side‘s inability to capitalise on its forward forays as well as Adelaide did at the other end.

“What I‘m at least pleased with is that we stayed connected as a footy team for two-and-a-half quarters,” the coach said.

“It was evenly balanced there for a period of time, but efficiency inside 50 was playing too big a role.

“Even though we were back in the fight, going inside 50 we were just completely inefficient and every time they went in it felt like they were going to score.

“We just couldn‘t turn the tap off when it came to them scoring from inside 50s.”

Mitch McGovern was a late withdrawal after experiencing calf soreness in the warm-up but Voss was hopeful both he and Saad’s injuries were not too bad.

“It was hamstring tightness, and that‘s all it is, but we just weren’t prepared to take that risk,” Voss said of Saad.

“He felt like it was starting to tighten up a little too much.

“There was no incident.

“We‘ll assess that, but we hope that’s all it is.”

Originally published as Carlton coach Michael Voss says the critics will come after being blitzed by Adelaide