Under-fire Carlton coach Michael Voss says his side needs to be “far more defensively stronger” following a disappointing 39-point loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
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The Blues were broken open in a rampaging third term.
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After holding a 19-point lead late in the second term, the 1-7 Blues conceded nine consecutive goals to fall to a five-goal deficit at three-quarter time.
“The reality is that defensively we haven’t been strong enough this year,” Voss said.
“We are just getting scored against too much.
“We have got to be far more defensively stronger than what we currently are against any side.
“So when a side presses, stand up. And we are currently not doing that.”
The Blues lost clearance 24-34 and were beaten 11-16 in centre clearances.
Voss was clear that his midfield was outplayed, with the Herald Sun’s Chief Football Writer declaring on Fox Footy it was the most “blunt” and “frustrated he has seen” the Blues coach this year.
“Beaten,” Voss clearly stated in response to a question on how he saw his midfielders.
“Don’t think we need to beat around the bush, we were beaten.
“We were beaten all over the ground, we lost valuable clearance, which is valuable territory and that’s a strong part of our game that clearly we didn’t get in order tonight.
“So again, in small patches, not long enough.”
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In an intense press conference, Voss was particularly disappointed in his side’s lack of execution across four quarters.
“Our ability to be able to do it for a longer period of time is not at the level that it needs to be at,” he said.
“When the game is against you, you need to defend and you need to fight and we are not doing it well enough.
“I can’t be any clearer than that.”
Blues defender Harry Dean was ruled out of the game with a suspected groin injury. Young midfielder Lachie Cowan passed his concussion tests.
Voss said star defender Jacob Weitering was “okay” and was dealing with a corky.
The Blues take on Brisbane at the Gabba next Friday before returning home to face the Western Bulldogs.