Western Bulldogs Storing Carlton Blues in the thriller of the Marvel stadium; Michael Voss; Tom Liberator; Patrick Crypps; Sam Darcy; results; device
“I think a lot of this was a little inefficiency … but today there are different reasons,” he said.
“In the end, the Bulldogs were able to intensify their game and owned the ball a little more than we would have liked. In the last quarter, we were unable to finish the way we wanted. We will continue to persevere and continue looking for those moments and as we improve.
The Blues coach Michael Voss turns to his players.Credit: AFL photo through Getty Images
“But a simple thing like giving eight punishment kicks (he injured us) – It is not a running ability … if we don’t accept it, then we will not go better, so we have to find a way to be able to do it.”
The blues seemed ready to take off and contend for a premiership after a remarkable second half race in 2023 made them skip in a preliminary final that lost against Brisbane from five goals up. But last year they limpted in the final and lost the opponent himself handedly and dug a hole in 2025.
They moved away from one unwanted title to the other, just like Melbourne last year.
The top of the designer Jagga Smith has also undergone an ACL of the end of the season and Nic Newman (breaking of the patella tendon) will miss most of the year. There was the obscene photographic scandal that convinced the then president of the club Luke Sayers to stop. Elijah Hollands and Harry McKay are far from the club for personal reasons.
However, it is easy to understand why Voss is putting a courageous face.
His team produced some bladder game steps in the opening district against the Bulldogs, in particular the multi-Boun effort of Zac Williams who created one of Charlie Curnow’s three goals.
Curnow seemed much better, even if he is faded. Tom de Koning is on the right way to be the Ruckman All-Australian this year. Brodie Kemp went up to score five goals in maximum. The young Maligno Lewis revoked Rory Lobb in a defensive role forward. Silvagna beat Naughton.
Adam Cerra (26 sales and eight authorizations) was also very good in a nocturnal skipper Patrick Crippps seemed to play fading and ended up with 22 touches largely without impact.
Patrick Crypps of the Blues and Oskar Baker of Bulldogs in action.Credit: AFL photo through Getty Images
Long-term history for teams that begin 0-3 is worrying for Voss and Co. But they just have to look back last year for inspiration. The Hawks gathered from 0-5 to win a final, while the Lions lost five of their first seven games in 2024 before going to claim the Premiership.
“In terms of context of the season, we are at the beginning, so there is a lot of walkway,” he said.
“But we also had feedback to suggest that we have to improve … When you look at us play and see the best parts of our games and see how we managed to play, it is worth it.
“But the message will be quite simple: make sure to become really clear about our roles, continue to continue playing and in the right moments, we have to calm down on the game – and we will continue to train it.”
The Carlton Blues seems to be shot down after losing against the Western Bulldogs on Friday.Credit: Getty images
There is an elephant in the room that will grow only if Carlton will continue to lose, no matter how competitive they are. This has everything to do with Voss and his safety of work.
For his part, he said he was “to me to be able to make sure to do something about it”, starting from Arch Rivals Collingwood on Thursday evening.
The reverse of the medal, there was a pressure release on Beveridge, who is getting a lot from his margin players in view of a journey to the west to face another side in difficulty in Fremantle.
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“All of us like to see the good in people, so see the promise in your players who are actually in 23 and you spend that you see them improve, and perhaps a little growth from week by week,” said Beveridge.
“This has not always been realized, but I think he really did it tonight … some of the guys who didn’t play much football at this level – there were some encouraging signs.”
Beveridge was adamant, he was not surprised by the way some of his minor lights had been intensified and said they continued to establish great expectations.
“I know that last week’s speech (losing against colringwood) was proud of them,” he said.
“Yes, up to a certain point (exactly), but we wanted to win that game – and that’s how we have to think. Otherwise, we don’t end up being a chance or take a look at where we want to go.”
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