Carlton jumps to second on AFL ladder and Michael Voss says it’s where they should be

Hours after the Sydney Swans took another scalp, Carlton laid down its challenge to the AFL ladder leaders and the Blues coach sent a message as well.

Charlie Curnow and the Blues are riding high. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Carlton coach Michael Voss declared the “ladder doesn’t lie”, adamant his team is the second best in the AFL after the MCG take-down of Essendon that reinforced the Blues’ premiership credentials.

Voss couldn’t confirm the seriousness of a shoulder injury to key forward Harry McKay, who returned late in the 26-point win with it strapped having taken on his twin, Bomber Ben, for the first time in their AFL careers.

But it was the only issue to emerge for the Blues who jumped the Bombers to take second position on the ladder and it provoked Voss to say his side had earnt its place as the second-best side in the competition.

“We are where we deserve – the ladder doesn’t lie – and we’ve had to do it with some challenges,” Voss said.

“It hasn’t been smooth sailing. We’ve been facing these top teams week after week after week and we’ve had some challenges, but with that’s come opportunity as well.

Waking up on a Monday morning with four points against the arch rival AND having the public holiday?

We quite like the sound of that.

We hope you do too, #Baggers 👋 pic.twitter.com/eMXWN1CrzI

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) June 9, 2024

“We’ve taken that as an opportunity to be able to try a few things and see where we can grow next.

“As it’s turned out there’s been a couple of roles that have emerged they’ve just helped us out a little bit.”

Voss said his team, which pulled away from the Bombers in the final term, had shown themselves to a four-quarter-team, a crucial plank of any premiership side.

“So to beat us, you have to go four quarters, and that’s something we’ve had to develop as a football team over the past little while,” he said.

“It hasn’t just arrived, it’s been something we’ve been working on for a while.”

Ben McKay and brother Harry, who took bragging rights. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Spearhead McKay spent time off the field after a head knock and returned late in the fourth with a heavily strapped shoulder.

“We’ll assess that, he obviously got hit in the shoulder. They assessed that in the last quarter, he was able to strap that and come back on,” Voss said.

“But for me to be able to form a prognosis, I don’t know, I’ll have to wait till Monday to find that out.”

“I am sure Tracy (Harry and Ben’s mum) is thinking ‘thank god that’s over’ because, as I said, you always dreaded mum’s phone call on the Monday.

“They had a great contest, we’re pleased with what Harry did.”