First, consider the unvarnished, unflattering facts of Carlton’s serial capitulations in the first four rounds of 2025.
The Blues led lowly Richmond by 25 points at half-time. They were five points ahead of premiership fancy Hawthorn – and probably should have been further in front – at intermission in round two.
Jesse Motlop of the Blues and Josh Daicos of the Magpies compete for the ball.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
They had a three goal lead at half-time over a Western Bulldogs team that was without key players, headed by Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar.
Then, on Thursday night, they somehow headed the ancient foe, Collingwood, by three points at the MCG in a game in which they were clear underdogs against the most statistically seasoned side in the game’s history.
But once good old Collingwood raised their tempo – the Magpies pressure rating soared in the third quarter – the Blues, as Michael Voss said, couldn’t handle it. The wizened Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom were out-working, and out-running them.
They wilted.
Patrick Cripps leads Carlton players from the field following their loss to the Magpies. Credit: via Getty Images
The Blues, as Michael 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.
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.
Blues coach Michael Voss says pointed conversations would be held this week with players struggling to perform.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“First half was good,” said Carlton’s midfielder George Hewett, who performed admirably on Collingwood wunderkind 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, backing coach Voss “to the hilt” as he put it.
“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?
George Hewett of the Blues celebrates a goal against Collingwood.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“We love Vossy, we back him to the hilt, we just want to perform for him, you know, like we love him. So, I’m sure it’ll turn. We’ve got to not wait for it to turn, we’ve got to make it turn.”
But does Carlton have sufficient manpower to make it turn? 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 is Collingwood more organised by dint of their collective coaching panel, headed by Craig McRae?
Such matters will surely be pondered, subject to the next month of results, 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.
But 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 the Luke 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. We’re a close group.“
As chairman of JP Morgan Australia, the new Carlton president Rob 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 is 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.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
