Carlton and coach Michael Voss might have crossed the point of no return on Sunday afternoon, after they blew a 43-point lead to ultimately lose by 23 against Melbourne.
The Demons didn’t kick a goal until the final minutes of the second quarter, but ultimately finished with 100 points and battered the Blues after half time, kicking 14 goals to four.
It continues a worrying trend of second half fade outs for Carlton, which have plagued them for multiple years and now seem to be getting worse.
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Michael Voss looks dejected after the loss to Melbourne. Getty
In Opening Round they led Sydney at half time, before ultimately losing by 63 points. The next week against Richmond, they led by five goals early in the third term before hanging on to win by just four, kicking one goal in an hour.
Now, fresh off a bye, the Blues dominated early once again, leading at one stage in the second quarter 44-1. From that moment forward, they were outscored 99-33.
The pressure will only continue to mount on Voss, the only coach in the AFL out of contract at the end of 2026.
“I’m pretty filthy. We’re putting ourselves in great positions and we’re handing it back,” Voss told reporters in the aftermath.
“That sounds like I’m taking away something from Melbourne … but we’re also not helping ourselves.
“We have to own it, that’s the first thing we have to do.
“Today was really disappointing. I was expecting more than that and we just didn’t get the change we were after.”
The Blues made the call to stand by Voss in 2025, despite similar calls externally for a fresh start.
Carlton players after the loss to Melbourne. Â Getty
But now, North Melbourne champion David King wonders if there’s any way back from the latest shock loss.
“The fans’ anger towards the whole Carlton situation has just bubbled to a point now,” King told SEN’s Fireball on Monday.
“I think Carlton have had ‘the game’. When the coach is under all sorts of pressure coming in to the season you can’t afford to have ‘the game’ like this.
“There’s a moment in time when you go, ‘You know what, this is probably not going to recover, this is probably not going to serve any purpose’.
“After witnessing what we’ve witnessed in the second halves of the last three weeks – they either can’t perform the way they’re asked to play for 120 minutes; or he just can’t get it out of them anymore.
“He just can’t get the guys to commit to the cause. I don’t necessarily blame him for the lot because there’s a whole host of things to chat about. But they didn’t really have a player that stood up and said ‘this is not happening’.
“I think for years we’ve just expected that to be Patrick Cripps. It wasn’t Paddy on the weekend and I’m not having a go at him at all. But once it wasn’t him it was no one else.
“Who actually put up a resistance that you’re proud of? If you talk to a Blues fan and they say, ‘At least this guy did this’. I didn’t see it from anyone.”
Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons celebrates a goal. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel was equally alarmed with what he saw from Carlton on Sunday.
“It’s pretty concerning because they keep getting beaten in the exact same way,” Bartel told Nine’s Today.
“Over the last 18 months, they keep getting a good lead to half time and then the concrete boots come on and they can’t get out of their own way.
“The opposition just put speed on the game and Melbourne were blistering.
“Michael Voss, he’s always under the pump, but the concerning thing for him is he hasn’t been able to solve these second half fade outs.
“Voss pointed to it being a mental thing. First time I’ve heard a coach admit that it must be between the ears for his players.
“Their players are playing safe and the opposition are making the ground really big and exposing Carlton’s lack of foot speed and depth through the midfield.
“It’s a bit of personal and a bit mental for them.”
Carlton coach Michael Voss. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Former Essendon coach James Hird agrees with Bartel’s belief that the issue for Carlton is mental, as much as strategy.
“In the first quarter, we saw them have the skill level to take the ball off the line,” Hird told Nine’s Footy Furnace.
“I just think they freeze up. When the game gets a bit closer, all the memories come back, they get too straight down the line.
“There’s no doubt other sides have better capacity on the outside to run and carry, which Carlton doesn’t have this week.”
The Blues have no time to reflect on the poor performance given they have a five-day turnaround to Good Friday, when they will take on North Melbourne.
They will likely be without one of the few shining lights from the season, draftee Harry Dean, who was taken to hospital after a heavy landing on his hip late in the game.
Veteran Zac Williams will also likely miss after copping a heavy blow to the ribs.
Carlton will have veteran defenders Nick Haynes, Nic Newman and Adam Saad available, after all three got through in the VFL on Sunday.