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Find your frequency here“Psychological turmoil”: Cornes and King dissect Carlton’s problems
Luke Mathews • July 25th, 2025 2:19 pm
SEN’s Kane Cornes and David King have taken a closer look at Carlton’s disappointing 2025 season after another horror loss to Hawthorn on Thursday night.
The Blues went into the game in 12th spot with just seven wins for the year and couldn’t even get themselves up for inspirational leader Sam Docherty’s emotional final game and Jacob Weitering’s 200th.
Michael Voss’ side were never in the contest with Hawthorn kicking eight of the first nine goals to skip out to a 40-point lead before half-time.
The loss means big calls are coming at Ikon Park at the end of the season with plenty of players’ futures still up in the air.
Despite having one year left to run on his contract, the club is still unsure as to whether Voss is the right man with incoming CEO Graham Wright set to have the final say.
Cornes believes that losses are taking a toll on the players and the club needs to change the way they play in order to keep up with modern footy.
“I’ve said it a couple of times - they look broken,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast on Friday morning.
“The coach looks fatigued, I can understand that.
“He looks frustrated, he looks confused as to where he is going to be in the box, is he watching the game, is he talking, is he sitting in the aisle, is he on the bench?
“He’s out of answers and not even last night with (Jacob) Weitering and (Sam) Docherty could that get the team up.
“(Patrick) Cripps looks like he is a broken player at the moment, he had one touch in the last quarter.
“This is the guy that had 45 votes in the Brownlow medal last year.
“This is just the psychological turmoil that these players have been through which is now manifesting itself out on the ground on game day.”
King questioned Carlton’s overall game style which was again caught out against the Hawks.
“I look at their team I think they are too tall last night, just make a decision,” King said.
“Forward of the ball they just couldn’t correct.
“Hoyney (Daniel Hoyne) has been banging on about this for 18 months, 75% of the game is ball movement, if you can’t move the ball, you can’t compete.
“The only way they really threatened Hawthorn was at clearance and scoring from clearance. Outside of that they don’t have the strike power.
“They don’t have the damage with ball in hand, they’ve been left wanting across half-back, they don’t have any damaging half backs.
“They’ve got to get with where the game is at and how you do that is a great discussion.”
The pair discussed what path the club should take going forward and whether it was best to stick with the current group or start all over again.
The current team is blessed with plenty of talent across the park, however, the Blues have limited room in their salary cap and minimal draft capital to help fast-track a rebuild.
“They’ve taken different directions across the drafting path, the talent acquisition path, with the list at Carlton,” King said.
“All the problems are coming home to roost.
“How do you correct that; how do you give Michael Voss a chance to have success with this group?
“Have you made your decision that its back to square one whether it be with the coach or without the coach?
“Why should Carlton be in the bottom nine,” Cornes said
“There is not one reason with all the advantages that they have as a huge club - well resourced, play the MCG, lack of travel.
“This just shows how poorly that club has been managed with all the advantages.
“I think there is two options - you go really aggressive with your list, and you go with a new coach; or you back in this group and Michael Voss for one more year.
“You just make some subtle adjustments to see what you can do with limited resources at the end of the year.
“If you are going to cut it pretty deep and you are going to trade the likes of (Charlie) Curnow and others then you are going with a new coach.
“If you are backing in Michael Voss, well, he doesn’t want a rebuild, he needs the wins for the now so it’s a bit more of a mini reset.”
The Blues sit 12th with a 7-12 record and have four games left in 2025 - Fremantle in Perth, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide both at Marvel and Essendon at the MCG.
