Carlton coach Michael Voss is currently facing the “biggest challenge in the AFL”, according to Fox Footy’s David King as his high-powered forward line failed to fire once again.
The Blues went down to St Kilda on Sunday by 22 points, and managed just 8.12 for their efforts in the loss at Marvel Stadium.
Despite boasting the likes of Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, the Blues sit fourth-last for scores behind only Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs this season – with Richmond still having a game in hand.
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But that’s despite entering the 2023 season with a list deemed “cherry ripe” for a crack at the premiership, Leigh Montagna warned on First Crack.
“When I watch Carlton play at the moment, it’s a bit of a snoozefest – there’s no real dare,” King said on First Crack.
“Right now, he’s (Voss) got the biggest challenge in the competition as coach. He’s got the talent, he’s got the forward line and they are underperforming.
“Is it individuals not necessarily living up to their end of the deal or is it the system still being clunky six weeks in? Time is slipping.
Carlton Press Conference | 09:26
“Their clearance game is ranked 12th in the competition for actually winning the clearance but 16th in terms of score differential – last year that was an absolute strength for them.
“Forward 50 is now 16th at goals per entry even with McKay and Curnow down there – how is that the case? The mind boggles.
“Every team in the comp would crave to have Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in their front half.
“They should be leading the competition in marks inside 50 – there’s no excuse for that really.”
Statistics show the Blues took 140 marks against the Saints on Sunday – but only nine of them came inside forward 50.
“They came into this year with a list that was cherry ripe – age demographic and everything you really need,” Montagna said.
“The elephant in the room today was that they could have had Ross Lyon as coach and Ross Lyon outcoached Michael Voss today with what he was able to do.
Saints make it five wins from Six! | 01:59
“When you think about Carlton’s start to the season – they got over the line against the Giants where there was that controversial free kick against (Stephen) Coniglio, the Kangaroos really they were up against it and the Kangaroos had no key defenders and no key forwards that day. The draw against Richmond, they were lucky to probably get away with two points.
“They are really struggling.
“The first 10 rounds last year when Michael Voss was new, and they were up and going, they scored 100 points six times. In the last 18 games, they’ve kicked 100 points twice.
“It’s been an issue since midway through last year.
“I think it’s their method – I think we have to question Michael Voss’ method.”
But the Blues coach was adamant it wasn’t his method to blame for their run of losses – rather their execution in their front half.
“Our front half game and our efficiency around our front half game needs to improve,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“What we’ve got to get better at is be more efficient in the front half of our game.”
But when asked again about his side’s ability to move the ball, Voss clapped back.
“I think I just highlighted that – do you want me to say it again?” he said.
“Our efficiency needs to improve. Our total game is not all together. There is parts in our front half that showed up today we need to get better at.
“I actually thought if I look back … some of the decision we made were actually quite sound … But our ability to execute and go after it needs maybe a bit of work.
“I think the method actually looked quite OK – you’ve got to finish your plays. They’re incomplete. I think that’s a bit of a theme for us… so we’ve got to go to work on it.”
St Kilda Press Conference | 08:30
King said the Blues “defeated themselves in a lot of ways today”.
“Have they orchestrated their own demise?” he questioned on First Crack.
“They are an asset poor team at the moment and they’ve got a hell of a run coming.
“They haven’t got a turnover game – it’s bottom four in the competition.
“If you do not have a turnover game, you cannot compete in September let alone arrive in September. There’s no punish in their game – there’s no real damage.
“There’s real worries.”
The Blues now head to Perth to face off against a struggling West Coast Eagles outfit before games against Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Sydney in Sydney, Melbourne and Essendon.
