Carlton’s season is quickly slipping out of control after they again failed to fire a shot after half-time against Collingwood to remain winless after four rounds.
The Blues took a slender lead into the long break in wet conditions – their fourth half-time lead this season – but when the Magpies lifted the pressure they destroyed Carlton.
Carlton coach Michael Voss leads his winless team off the MCG on Thursday night.Credit: Getty Images
Finals look a long way off for Carlton as Michael Voss’s fourth season veers off track, while Collingwood – the oldest team in the competition – are vying for another appearance in September.
The eventual margin was 15 points, but it could have been bigger. The only blight on the night for the Magpies was a head-high bump by defender Dan Houston on Carlton’s Lachie Fogarty that puts him in doubt for their game against Sydney in Gather Round.
The game swung in the opening minutes of the third quarter when Collingwood lifted the pressure rating to above 200, had the first six clearances and the first seven inside-50s. They hit the scoreboard, too, with goals to Jordan DeGoey, Lachie Schultz and Tim Membrey before Schultz – who was voted best on ground – kicked another goal to stretch the lead beyond four goals at the final break.
Collingwood could have been further in front if not for their inaccuracy, while the Blues were starved of options. They could not move the ball from their back half as they had been doing in the first half. They did not adapt to the wet conditions or respond to the disciplined manner Collingwood set up.
Instead of just taking what the Magpies gave them, they continued to attempt to attack through the corridor and change the angles. All that did was walk them into the web Collingwood had created, and Mitch McGovern, Ollie Hollands and Zac Williams coughed the ball up too easily.
By contrast, the Magpies made the most of their ascendancy at centre clearance, holding field position and dominating inside-50s.
Darcy Moore and Schultz are back in form and Darcy Cameron – who is on about the average AFL wage – beat a gallant Tom DeKoning, who is being courted by St Kilda.
The loss means Carlton have won just two of their past 13 matches. Their only wins in that stretch came against North Melbourne and West Coast. They are the Blues’ opponents in the next two weeks, and they desperately need a win against the Eagles in Gather Round to build their confidence.
Collingwood have won their past seven matches at the MCG, while the Blues have lost their past five matches at the same venue.
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