After Voss and fellow coaches Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast) and Chris Scott (Geelong) expressed confusion about the rule in and concerns for player welfare in recent weeks,the AFL on Tuesday wrote to clubs advising that of the condition by shortening the “reasonable time” component.
When Port’s Aliir Aliir grabbed Charlie Curnow by the arm early in Thursday night’s game,the star Carlton forward was in trouble.AFL Photos
The first half of Thursday’s clash at Adelaide Oval saw a noticeable shift in the rule’s arbitration.
Blues forward Charlie Curnow was pinged with appropriate haste when tackled by Aliir Aliir midway through the first quarter,as was half-back Matt Owies when corralled by Power opponent Kane Farrell in the second stanza.
“There were a couple (of examples) and I thought for the better,” Voss said.
“There was one against Charlie – I thought that was safer for the player.
“There was a Matty Owies one as well,which was how I thought it should be adjudicated in the current landscape of AFL football.
“With all the things we say are important to us,I thought those two decisions were correct.
“As far as the prior opportunity goes,it was certainly closer to where I thought it should be.”
Carlton’s eight-goal fourth-quarter explosion turned an arm wrestle across the opening three terms into a shock rout.
It also sealed the Blues’ second victory at Adelaide Oval in as many months – following their Gather Round win against Fremantle – after previously being winless at the picturesque venue in seven attempts,with an average losing margin of 63.4 points.
“Wins like tonight go in that bucket as a nice signature moment;where a record or history that has been there is not so much a factor any more,” Voss beamed. “We certainly don’t see it that way any more.”
Captain Patrick Cripps was subdued in the opening half before spearheading Carlton’s third-quarter revival,then stamping himself as the match’s most dominant figure in the lopsided final term.
Cripps bagged two goals in the first two minutes of the fourth to have Port reeling.
“We just had some detail around stoppage we needed to fix up,” Voss said.
“They were just breaking too easily from that part.
“We never say that anyone steps in big moments,but sometimes they just show themselves.
Charlie Curnow is the centre of attention as the Blues celebrate a rare win at the Adelaide Oval.AFL Photos
“And Crippa,as the captain,did that in the last quarter.”
Wingman Blake Acres hailed Cripps’ dynamic fourth-quarter burst,during which he momentarily,but dramatically,turned the tables in his marquee duel with Jason Horne-Francis.
“The skipper stood up in the fourth quarter and really led the charge,” said Acres,who continued his fine form with 20 disposals,which included three goal assists and a steadying fourth-quarter goal which virtually put Port to pasture.
“They’re a great midfield. Jason Horne-Francis is an absolute bull and Zak Butters can run all day …[but] Crippa just turned it on in the last quarter.
“Sometimes you need efforts like that. He stood up in a big way for us.”
Voss feels Carlton “learned a lot of things about ourselves last year”,while Acres contends the Blues are a better team now than the one that advanced to the preliminary final in 2023.
“Last year we were still finding ourselves,” he said.
“This year,we know that feeling and what we needed to bring every week. We’ve got a very consistent group now.”
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