“Broken group”: Is this the straw that breaks Carlton’s back?

Andrew Slevison • June 27th, 2025 11:16 am

Where to now for Carlton?

It’s hard to know here to start after the Blues were smacked by 50 points by Port Adelaide on Thursday night.

The listless performance has been described as a “disaster” delivered by a “broken group”, with Kane Cornes believing the Blues have now lost their combative edge.

After copping it from all angles throughout the week, Cornes felt that perhaps the Blues might have showed up in Adelaide with some physicality, only to put up a lacklustre display that could be the straw that broke the back of Michael Voss.

“It was a disaster and there’s no way to sugar-coat what we saw from the Carlton footy club,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“The story is about the Blues. After the week they had there needs to be a response. I was absolutely shocked by the physical performance of it. Looking at all the numbers coming into the game, you say good luck to Port Adelaide matching them physically from a contested, pressure and tackle point of view.

“Where was that? This is the concern for Michael Voss - they’ve lost their edge. That was the clearance and the contest.

“The amount of missed tackles we saw and the amount of Carlton players coughing up easy handballs with a slight bit of physical pressure. There’s always going to be mis-kicks because they’re a poor ball use side, but going to ground, falling over, missed tackles, coughed up handballs and a lack of anything physically after the week they had, and no response - that’s the biggest concern.

“That was a coach-killing performance. I’ve been really supportive of Michael Voss. I thought there was a lot going right and the last thing they needed to do is sack another coach. The last thing they needed was a performance like that after the week they’ve had.

“This may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. It looks like a broken group.”

Not up for the fight?

Carlton’s “coach-killing performance” has undoubtedly heaped more pressure on Voss who is contracted until the end of 2026.

A distinct lack of effort tells David King that too much is constantly left to too few in the navy blue.

“It certainly heaps a lot of pressure on Michael and the board and Graham Wright, obviously,” said King.

“Even Vossy said last night said they didn’t have the effort. That had been the one saving grace. You talk about how clunky they’ve been and that they hadn’t been able to find that connection piece inside forward 50. The rest of their game was in order.

“They just didn’t look motivated for the fight. They just didn’t look up for the challenge.

“There’s a lot of privates. There’s a lo”Broken group”: t of entry level soldiers who don’t want to assume responsibility for the footy club when a couple of their top-liners are off.

“(Sam) Walsh is not there, you’ve got (Patrick) Cripps who is banged up, and (Jacob) Weitering also banged up down back. Who stands up? Who is it going to be that actually says ‘I’ve got this’?”

King singled out some senior players who are failing to turn up in the absence of others.

“I look at players like (Adam) Cerra. I reckon I’ve talked about Cerra 10 times this year. First half, one kick,” he continued.

“I look at Adam Saad. I’m hot on Saad, but he’s a senior core player who has been around a long time. First half, four touches.

“They all tell me (Tom) De Koning is a total superstar, worth $1.5 million. Ok, well get hold of (Jordon) Sweet and (Dante) Visentini, get Carlton off to a flyer. Just a good, average competitive game.

“The next level of player does not stand up when required. They leave it to the top four or five. I’m just talking about front-line representing, because they just don’t show up when required.”

State of the list

Next on the agenda was the state of Carlton’s list.

According to Cornes it’s simply not where it needs to be for a club that wants to contend.

He says there is a lack of athleticism within their midfield group, and is worried for Voss if the competitiveness and effort of the playing group dries up.

“There’s so many issues with their list,” Cornes said further.

“One player (George Hewett) has 20 touches last night. This is in a league where we’re having teams getting 400 disposals (in a game).

“They could not get their hands on the footy. When they did they burnt the footy repeatedly.

“They clearly didn’t realise how poor a state their list is in. They’ve got no athletes, they can’t run through the midfield. Even Cripps is becoming an issue now with the way you can spread off him from stoppage.

“They need some mids that can run. They are in quicksand with cement boots on.

“The list isn’t Vossy’s problem. That’s a list management discussion.

“The problem for Voss is that he is has been a coach that has garnered effort and contest. Traditionally they’ve been a really strong stoppage team, that’s been their weapon. They’ve jumped on landmines, they’re seriously tough, their pressure is great.

“When you lose that, that’s Michael Voss’ problem.

“Regardless of who coaches the Blues next year, there’s going to be serious problems with this list."

Next up for the 6-9 Blues, who have fallen to 11th, is top-of-the-table Collingwood at the MCG next Friday night.

What the future holds for Voss is anyone's guess...