AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss focused on Collingwood, not the Blues’ likely finals return

Carlton’s strong start to the season suggests the Blues are finally headed back to the finals but coach Michael Voss doesn’t want to think about that.

Carlton star Charlie Curnow has bounced back from injury in a big way this year. Picture: Getty Images

Carlton coach Michael Voss will embrace the Blues’ rivalry with Sunday’s opponent Collingwood but doesn’t consider the occasion as preparation for potential big finals down the track.

The AFL commentariat is rushing to position Carlton as unbeaten reigning premier Melbourne’s greatest threat to winning back-to-back flags, especially with Fremantle stumbling in recent weeks.

The Blues have won four straight games, including outlasting finals contender Sydney last week, to surge into third place on the back of Charlie Curnow’s goalkicking exploits in Harry McKay’s absence.

“I don’t drift too far into what it looks like in the future. I just look at what’s right in front of us,” Voss said.

“It’s great those conversations are around us, but hopefully it occupies little thought. We’ve still focused a hell of a lot on, ‘How do we earn the right to get those opportunities?’.

“There’s been a fair bit of work to this point in time to give ourselves a chance to head to the MCG and play against a big opposition, (in front of) a big crowd, and we feel like we’re playing the right way and it’s bringing people to the game.

“At the end of the day, if we’re involved in those sorts of games at the back end of the season, we’ll take it when it comes.”

Charlie Curnow is in a rich vein of form up forward. Picture: Michael Klein

Curnow’s booted 14 goals in the past three matches to snatch the Coleman Medal lead – ahead of Tom Lynch and Max King – after playing only four games in the previous two-and-a-half seasons because of a knee issue.

But it’s not only the athletic forward’s goals that are catching Voss’ eye.

“He’s been amazing, Charlie. It feels like he’s got more confidence, but the right confidence, over the last little while,” he said.

“The thing I love about it is he’s not necessarily focusing on the goals, even though he’s getting those opportunities.

“He’s just invested himself completely within the team and his little brigade he’s got down there that are helping him out, and he’s focusing on bringing the ball to ground and letting his small forwards go to work.”

Voss also lavished praise on his defensive bookend, Jacob Weitering, who he said played “one of the best games I’ve seen a full-back play” against Sydney legend Lance Franklin.

Jacob Weitering impressed coach Michael Voss with his performance against Sydney and Lance Franklin. Picture: Getty Images

Jack Martin (calf) and Jack Newnes (soreness) will have to successfully negotiate Thursday’s main session to be in contention for the Magpies clash, which pits Voss against his premiership teammate Craig McRae.

The former Lions-turned-coaches briefly touched base early in the week before focusing on how to beat each other.

“(Collingwood’s) a formidable football team and they’ve got some genuine strengths that we need to make sure we get on top of pretty early, otherwise they’ll have their day,” Voss said.

“I think if I listen to what Craig has said consistently; it’s been around embracing imperfection and going after it, and they seem to be playing that way.

“They’re certainly not afraid of being able to make mistakes and take the game on when they need to ... so there are some challenges and real threats that we have to make sure we overcome.”