‘Can definitely go’: Carlton coach Michael Voss delivers vicious spray during Bombers clash

Carlton were comfortably leading at three-quarter time against the Bombers on Friday, but their coach still wasn’t satisfied.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 10: Michael Voss, Senior Coach of the Blues addresses his players during the 2022 AFL Round 13 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 10, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Carlton coach Michael Voss delivered a vicious spray to his side at three-quarter time against the Essendon Bombers on Friday – despite comfortably leading by 28 points.

Despite outscoring the Bombers in the third term at the MCG, a frustrated Voss vented his frustration in a team huddle during the break, and you don’t have to be a lip-reader to guess what was said.

The Blues allowed Essendon several entires inside 50 in the third stanza, and Voss presumably didn’t mince his words while assessing their defensive performance.

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“I thought our first two-and-a-half quarters were really good, but we just strayed from doing some little things well, which we had been doing earlier,” he said later.

“I think we’re still in that phase where we’re learning to win and win properly. We acknowledge there’s still some growth left in us.

“When we talk about expectations, people will talk about where we’re going to finish, but our expectation is that we stay with what we’re trying to do and play a certain way.

“There’s certain behaviours that we need and we have to stay on that. It was more reinforcement.”

I love him but I’m so scared of Michael Voss reckon I’d cry if even looked my way #AFLDonsBlues

— Della (@Dellalovesssss) June 10, 2022

Although it seemed out of character for Voss, Carlton forward Charlie Curnow confirmed to Fox Footy that his coach “can definitely go” when required.

“I think he has a really nice balance to it,” he said after the 26-point win.

“I think our football at the time there was a few things where we just needed to control the game a bit better and get the game back into a bit of a contest. You always need a big spray like that here and there.”

Carlton coach Michael Voss. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Blues teammate Patrick Cripps continued: “He’s a passionate guy and he’s holding us to a high standard and the standard we set for ourselves at the start of the year. We probably went away in the third quarter from playing our footy and it was just resetting us.

“To the boys’ credit I thought we responded. The opposition are going to throw their best at you and it’s how you stand up, I think a lot of times this year we’ve stood up when challenged and that’s been the most pleasing thing.”

Carlton spoiled Essendon’s 150th celebrations with a comfortable victory at the MCG, but will be sweating on star midfielder Adam Cerra’s tight hamstring.

The Blues lost prized recruit Cerra before quarter-time then weathered a brief Bomber storm to largely cruise to a 12.8 (80) to 7.12 (54) win that provisionally propels them inside the top four.

Harry McKay and, to a lesser extent, Curnow terrorised an outmatched Essendon defence, combining for five goals and 14 marks, including seven inside 50.

They rubbed further salt into the Bombers’ wounds early in the third term, when McKay’s deft tap to Curnow set up a classy dribble goal for Carlton’s first of the second half.

Harry McKay of the Blues is tackled by Jayden Laverde of the Bombers. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Blues were never seriously troubled from there but, perhaps, wasted an opportunity for a handy percentage-boosting triumph.

Sam Docherty (33 disposals) continued his fairytale comeback from a second bout of cancer with a brilliant performance, while George Hewett, Sam Walsh and Cripps all neared 30 touches.

Essendon rolled out a cavalcade of club greats pre-match – from James Hird to Kevin Sheedy, Dustin Fletcher and Gavin Wanganeen – and received a rousing pre-game speech from captain Dyson Heppell.

But the Bombers’ infamous drought without a finals win is certain to extend for another year as they slumped to a 10th defeat from 12 games.

– with Marc McGowan, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Can definitely go’: Carlton coach Michael Voss delivers vicious spray during Bombers clash