Carlton’s nail-biting eight-point win over Essendon on Sunday night has been enough to keep their slim finals hopes alive, with coach Michael Voss fielding questions over the last 24 hours regarding his sides’ inability to hold onto a lead.
The Blues allowed a healthy four-goal margin to slip through their fingers in front of a packed crowd as the Bombers won the pressure battle in the final quarter to swing momentum in their favour.
Poor ball movement and a lack of creativity in the forward half has been at the forefront of Carlton’s struggles this season, leaving Voss to make a change before the fourth quarter with captain Patrick Cripps joining the forward line.
While the dual Brownlow Medalist failed to leave a mark on the scoreboard, his presence helped draw defensive attention early in the final term, with Blake Acres and Zac Williams slotting two timely goals.
Michael Voss says he isn’t nervous ahead of a football-focused CEO taking the reins at Carlton.
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“Crippa has... I won’t divulge too much of what we do,” Voss paused when asked on 3AW whether it was Cripps’ decision to move forward or his.
“He does spend periods of time moving forward of the ball. We give him the opportunity to spend some minutes down there and that enables a different look on ball. It’s part of what we ask from time to time and he’s more than happy to do it.”
Voss added that the decision was mutual, but it does speak volumes to Carlton’s sputtering attack and lack of depth in the midfield – particularly on a night where Cripps had only 15 disposals.
“We’re pretty committed to expand the midfield group and he’s leading that and obviously part of that involves a role change as more of a deep forward when we need it,” Voss went on to say.
Now eight points adrift of the eight, the Blues prepare for a favourable three weeks ahead with games against West Coast, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, before a month-long gauntlet against Collingwood, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Hawthorn.