By Jake Niall
It hasn’t always been so, but Carlton’s leadership is more composed in their decision-making than their players with the football.
So, in the coming days and weeks, we will likely see a closing of ranks around Michael Voss. Carlton’s examination of their failings – exposed again by Collingwood under Thursday night lights – will look far beyond the once-traditional practice of sheeting blame home to the coach.
Patrick Cripps leads Carlton players from the field following their loss to the Magpies. Credit: via Getty Images
The new president Rob Priestley, a more understated presence than his predecessor Luke Sayers, has preached unity and stability from the outset. Voss has the backing of the players, as George Hewett declared after the Collingwood defeat. “We love Vossy, we back him to the hilt, we just want to perform for him, you know”.
How much of Carlton’s issue is playing depth and personnel? Are the coaches collectively extracting enough from a group that has won two from 13 games since round 17 last year? Are there other issues that weren’t obvious in pre-season?
Such matters will be pondered by Graham Wright, the man most responsible for hiring Craig McRae at Collingwood and establishing that strong football operation. Wright takes the baton as chief executive from Brian Cook later this year; if there are major calls to be made at Carlton, they will have Wright’s stamp.
The pattern of capitulation is clear: the Blues have led each of Richmond (25 points), Hawthorn (five), the Bulldogs (18) and due to their opponent’s profligacy, Collingwood (three), at half-time this year.
Jesse Motlop of the Blues and Josh Daicos of the Magpies compete for the ball.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Once good old Collingwood raised their tempo – the Magpies pressure rating soared in the third quarter – the Blues, as Voss said, couldn’t handle it. The wizened Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom were out-working, and out-running them.
They wilted.
The Blues, as Voss said post-match, must “own” the reality of failing to deal with the opposition’s pressure. “That puts a target on your back,” he said.
The target is on Voss’ back – at least from fans and media – in part because his players can’t hit them.
Blues coach Michael Voss says pointed conversations would be held this week with players struggling to perform.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
They couldn’t find open teammates. Handballs were smothered and turned over. The footy was marooned in Collingwood’s attacking half for nearly the entire third quarter.
The Pies, despite being older than an RSL club, were the team that played with the greater zest and hunger. The margin of 17 points was so flattering it might have been photoshopped.
“First half was good,” said Hewett, who performed admirably on Nick Daicos. “We just, we’re just not competing at the level that’s required at AFL footy I think in the second half.”
Hewett put the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the players. He dismissed team fitness as a concern.
George Hewett of the Blues celebrates a goal against Collingwood.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I think we just need to have maybe some honest conversations about, you know, where our mind goes maybe individually and collectively as a group, just the level of competing in the second half.”
Does the challenging start with the review of Thursday night? “Maybe, I think us players have got to drive it, which we will because our standards – where our standards go – is it up to AFL standard?
Hewett said he was sure there would be a turnaround. “We’ve got to not wait for it to turn, we’ve got to make it turn.”
But do Carlton have sufficient manpower to do that? That the Blues don’t have a deep tailend; that their fortunes hinge heavily on the weekly efforts of Patrick Cripps, on the health of Charlie Curnow and Sam Walsh, on Jacob Weitering’s soundness, has been evident during the entire Voss era.
Cripps and Curnow were eclipsed against the Pies, the combination of slipshod forward entries and a wet ball making Curnow’s task even harder. Hopefully, Harry McKay will return from personal leave of absence shortly.
It must be said that the Magpies were more organised, especially behind the ball. Is this superiority in method due to personnel – ie, Collingwood’s more even spread of players, leaders and stronger bottom eight – or are Collingwood more organised by dint of their collective coaching panel?
Whatever the source of deficits, the Blues cannot concede this season, and have been handed a small mercy in fixturing, given that they meet West Coast at Gather Round – a game they simply cannot lose. Then, they meet North Melbourne on Good Friday; on present form, that’s no gimme.
It is natural to question whether off-field events, such as McKay’s absence and the personal issues that saw Elijah Hollands spend time away from the club – or even Sayers’ resignation as president – have been a distraction to the players.
Hewett, citing his past life with the Bloods in Sydney, did not think the players unsettled. “No, I’ve been at two great footy clubs and this is as close I’ve seen a group be.”
As chairman of JP Morgan Australia, the new president Priestley knows the challenge of meeting market expectations. In Carlton’s case, the shareholders are understandably restless, due to the long time without a decent return on their investment.
It is too soon to write off the season, like a bad loan, and the Blues can cite the recoveries of Hawthorn (0-5 last year) and the Lions (0-3 to premiership) – and their own startling 2023 turnaround – as demonstrations of a team’s recuperative possibilities.
“Nothing changes,” said Hewett. “I’ve been in a team [Sydney of 2017] that’s zero and six and we just missed top four, things change quick. Get a win, get that feeling back and it’ll be right.”
Carlton are still talking about themselves as an under-performing unit, a team of talent that’s misfiring. The more worrisome possibility is that they’re performing much closer to their 2025 median level.
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