They had a higher score on the board at half-time (65 points) than they finished their previous five matches,and they had completed the second most dominant quarter for the year,outscoring the Suns by 54 points. Only Geelong’s third quarter against Hawthorn was more one-sided.
Harry McKay,who kicked three goals,marks on Sunday.Credit:Getty Images
Carlton’s supporters,frustrated to the point of despair,stood as one to cheer the team off the ground at half-time. Not only did they see accuracy in front of goal,they also saw kicks hit targets,run off half-back and ferocious tackling. On a sleepy Melbourne Sunday afternoon,many Blues fans were wiping their eyes to ensure what they saw was real.
Voss said the midfield shared the load and the forwards were able to convert the opportunities created after being inaccurate in the past two months. He said they had focused on building pressure around the ball and their tackle count reflected that.
“You know what your game looks like and what we are constantly there to do is to provide the picture and if the picture is not quite right,then we have got to provide the clarity,and we’re going to keep getting after it,” Voss said.
“I feel like sometimes when[I tell the media] that nothing changes for us,you take that the wrong way because sometimes it is about a consistency of being able to execute and reinforcing the things that work.”
Carlton’s supporters seemed as surprised as anyone at what they had witnessed after the Suns kicked the first two goals. The Blues were stagnant and safe in their ball movement and were setting themselves up for a tough afternoon.
But with their first goal on the board and Voss giving them a couple of stern reminders at quarter-time about what was required,they went berserk. It was as though Brendon McCullum had inspired “Vossball”.
Patrick Cripps kicked three goals in a dominant performance.Credit:Getty Images
By contrast,Gold Coast were pathetic around the contest,reinforcing the notion they are not ready to contend with a spot in the eight on the line.
They have also been hopeless after a bye – they have a 20 per cent winning record between 2018-22 – and they have only won four of the 17 times they have visited the MCG.
It was 10 minutes into the third quarter before they broke a streak of 12 unanswered Carlton goals when Jack Lukosius kicked straight after Mitch McGovern had blanketed him in the first half.
A crestfallen Stuart Dew sat on the bench with his headphones on wondering how such a performance could appear in his sixth season as coach. Post-game he was adamant that one poor quarter would not define the group,and they needed to bounce back.
“We’re disappointed with today. We need to take responsibility. We have played a strong brand of footy for the last six or seven weeks. We let ourselves down today ... it’s a missed opportunity,” Dew said.
He said he would not have to “poke the bear too much” to get the midfield to respond. “They will have some steely eyes this week. They are a bunch of competitors,” Dew said. “We’ll cop this on the chin and get back to work. They understand the ramifications for a performance like that.”
There was a minor rally in the third quarter when the Suns matched the Blues,but their pressure was not at the heights it needed to be given what they had served up in the second quarter. Levi Casboult had battled hard and Ben Ainsworth also tried to provide a spark,but the young midfielders appeared to be on their break.
Loading
It was Carlton’s day,however,as they absorbed the pressure and then scored from stoppages,which is an area the Suns normally defend well.
McKay kicked his third goal early in the last quarter to ensure the celebrations happened throughout the final quarter as Carlton head to the bye in a positive frame of mind. Then Cripps joined in with a stoppage goal to ensure the Blues had kicked 15 goals from 41 inside-50s with nine goalkickers. The final humiliation come when the Suns could not rush the ball over the goal line late and Matt Owies kicked a goal.
After a bye Carlton play Hawthorn on Sam Walsh’s 23rd birthday as they look to regain confidence in the back half of the season.
Carlton:1.2 10.5 13.8
Gold Coast:2.6 2.9 5.11
GOALS Carlton: McKay 3,Cripps 3,Cottrell 2,Cerra 2,Curnow 2,De Koning 2,Owies 2,Kennedy,Fogarty.Gold Coast: Ainsworth 2,Humphries 2,Casboult,Lukosius,King.
BEST Carlton: Cerra,Walsh,Docherty,Cripps,McGovern,Weitering,Cottrell,Curnow,Kemp.Gold Coast: Casboult 2,Anderson,Ainsworth,Humphries.
VOTES
Adam Cerra (Carlton) 8
Sam Docherty (Carlton) 8
Sam Walsh (Carlton) 8
Patrick Cripps (Carlton) 7
Mitch McGovern (Carlton) 7