By Marc McGowan
A heartbroken Michael Voss on Sunday night rued Jack Higgins’ late match-winner that stole victory off Carlton and almost cost them a finals berth.
The Blues looked set to post a memorable triumph over St Kilda after goals to Ashton Moir and Jesse Motlop in a pulsating final term, only for a skied Higgins snap to barely clear the goal line with 12 seconds to go.
Michael Voss consoles his players after their loss to the Saints.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Zak Jones not only delivered the handball to Higgins for his goal, but also helped thwart the Blues’ last-ditch efforts to regain the lead when he smothered Elijah Hollands’ kick.
There was also the drama of a Brodie Kemp set-shot miss from 30 metres out with two minutes to go – and Carlton leading by four points – before Mattaes Phillipou misfired at the other end.
All of that was enough for the Saints to hang on for a heart-stopping two-point win, leaving injury-ravaged Carlton’s finals fate resting on Port Adelaide beating Fremantle in Perth.
The Power’s 20-point victory not only secured Port a home qualifying final against Geelong, but meant the Blues, not the Dockers, will head to the Gabba for an elimination final against the club Carlton coach captained to a flag three-peat, the Brisbane Lions.
However, Voss insisted his disappointment in defeat owed simply to the manner of the way they lost rather than the bigger picture.
“It’s heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking,” Voss said.
“I don’t feel like we lost that game on heart, that’s for sure. We lost it in moments, and we probably didn’t take all the ones we needed, to be able to get the job done.
“It shows you what a fingertip does in footy, doesn’t it? Just how close it is, and how close a competition it is, but the ability to be able to stay present, play, and just fight right to the end ... it was an exceptional effort from the group to be able to do that.”
The Blues went into battle without a number of their best players again, including Coleman medallists Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, Adam Cerra, Tom De Koning and Mitch McGovern, and twice went 20 points down in the third term.
Carlton had struggled to kick goals up until that point but suddenly came alive with three of the last four into three-quarter-time to slash the deficit to only nine points.
Patrick Cripps (30 disposals, eight clearances) was a strong performer for most of the day, but it was Sam Walsh (32, nine), George Hewett (32) and Ollie Hollands (12 of his 21 touches) who stepped up in the final term.
First-round draft pick Moir, who was subbed into the match for the fourth quarter, also had some impressive moments beyond just the poise he showed to kick truly on his left boot.
Carlton’s Ashton Moir celebrates his goal.Credit: Getty Images
“I asked the group two weeks ago, and you heard me speak in this press conference, about how we’ll find out a little bit about ourselves over the next couple of weeks,” Voss said.
“I think we found out a lot. [There is] a lot to like in our kids, who came in and brought the spirit that they needed to.
“We found out a little bit more about our leaders and how they were able to reset and reframe and get after it, and also the fight that we’ve got within the group.
“The facts are, we shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place, but I’m pleased with the response that we got, and obviously, because of that, it makes it really heartbreaking.”
St Kilda responded to the 85-point thrashing from the Lions to finish the season with three consecutive wins and in 12th place.
Rowan Marshall (19 possessions, 37 hitouts) impressed.
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