Michael Voss says Carlton needs to address its defensive issues “pretty quickly” as he put the Blues’ first-choice players on notice with a concerted effort to reward VFL form.
The Carlton coach said there were simple areas to address after a “really disappointing” fortnight in which the Blues conceded 216 points in losses to GWS and Western Bulldogs.
He said omitted defender Brodie Kemp had been asked to show consistency in the VFL as Sam Durdin loomed as a strong chance of playing his second game for Carlton against his former Kangaroos teammates.
Named on an extended bench, Durdin needed to prove his fitness on Friday after battling soreness earlier in the week but was set to join Jacob Weitering and Caleb Marchbank in the key defensive posts against North Melbourne on Sunday.
Round 19
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Asked if the selection move was designed to free up Weitering from a match-up against Roos spearhead Nick Larkey, Voss said: “Possibly.”
Key defender Sam Durdin is in line to play his first game for Carlton since his solitary appearance in 2022. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“Why (Durdin) is considered is because he’s in really good form, and obviously we’ve got a couple of boys in a similar boat,” he said.
“Jesse Motlop’s been able to go back (to the VFL) and he’s got now four or five weeks of football under him.
“I feel like he’s been steadily building his form over the past month, so he’s certainly earnt the right to get back into this team.”
Voss said the same philosophy was behind George Hewett’s recall after he was squeezed out of Carlton’s midfield by Adam Cerra’s return from injury.
“Obviously, the big (selection decision) for us was also with George Hewett and his form,” Voss said.
“He’s been in great form throughout periods of this year and went back and played very, very well last week in the VFL.
“We like to always balance out and give reward to players who are playing some good footy in the VFL.”
Voss said Kemp would “hopefully get back into the team pretty quickly” but needed to build his confidence in the VFL.
It is the second time the 23-year-old has been dropped after Marchbank was preferred to him at the pointy end of the Blues’ finals campaign last year.
The coach said he agreed with expert commentary that the Blues’ defence had not been “up to scratch”.
Voss played down reports Sam Docherty (left) could launch an unlikely comeback later this season after rupturing his ACL in the opening round. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“The month before, we aimed up in that area, and the reality is the last two weeks have been really disappointing,” he said.
“There’s some really simple things within it though – it’s not like it’s a lot of big things. I still feel like a lot of that part of our game is actually going OK.
“But we’ve lowered our guard, and teams have been able to score a little bit too easily, so we’re going to have to address that pretty quickly.”
Former captain Sam Docherty ran laps with Corey Durdin at Ikon Park on Friday before being put through change of direction work at speed, but Voss said reports he could return this season had “jumped the gun a little bit too early”.
Docherty ruptured his ACL in the opening round against Brisbane but has noticeably ramped up his training over the past few weeks.
“I appreciate there’s an interest just because of the person he is and some of the things he’s been through, but he’s stepping through pretty well,” Voss said.
“For him to be out here and out on the grass running around, it’s great to see, but we’re probably firing a few shots a bit too early there.”
Michael Voss says Carlton needs to fix defence ‘quickly’ – MASHAHER
Michael Voss says Carlton needs to address its defensive issues “pretty quickly” as he put the Blues’ first-choice players on notice with a concerted effort to reward VFL form.
The Carlton coach said there were simple areas to address after a “really disappointing” fortnight in which the Blues conceded 216 points in losses to GWS and Western Bulldogs.
He said omitted defender Brodie Kemp had been asked to show consistency in the VFL as Sam Durdin loomed as a strong chance of playing his second game for Carlton against his former Kangaroos teammates.
Named on an extended bench, Durdin needed to prove his fitness on Friday after battling soreness earlier in the week but was set to join Jacob Weitering and Caleb Marchbank in the key defensive posts against North Melbourne on Sunday.
Round 19
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Asked if the selection move was designed to free up Weitering from a match-up against Roos spearhead Nick Larkey, Voss said: “Possibly.”
“Why (Durdin) is considered is because he’s in really good form, and obviously we’ve got a couple of boys in a similar boat,” he said.
“Jesse Motlop’s been able to go back (to the VFL) and he’s got now four or five weeks of football under him.
“I feel like he’s been steadily building his form over the past month, so he’s certainly earnt the right to get back into this team.”
Voss said the same philosophy was behind George Hewett’s recall after he was squeezed out of Carlton’s midfield by Adam Cerra’s return from injury.
“Obviously, the big (selection decision) for us was also with George Hewett and his form,” Voss said.
“He’s been in great form throughout periods of this year and went back and played very, very well last week in the VFL.
“We like to always balance out and give reward to players who are playing some good footy in the VFL.”
Voss said Kemp would “hopefully get back into the team pretty quickly” but needed to build his confidence in the VFL.
It is the second time the 23-year-old has been dropped after Marchbank was preferred to him at the pointy end of the Blues’ finals campaign last year.
The coach said he agreed with expert commentary that the Blues’ defence had not been “up to scratch”.
“The month before, we aimed up in that area, and the reality is the last two weeks have been really disappointing,” he said.
“There’s some really simple things within it though – it’s not like it’s a lot of big things. I still feel like a lot of that part of our game is actually going OK.
“But we’ve lowered our guard, and teams have been able to score a little bit too easily, so we’re going to have to address that pretty quickly.”
Former captain Sam Docherty ran laps with Corey Durdin at Ikon Park on Friday before being put through change of direction work at speed, but Voss said reports he could return this season had “jumped the gun a little bit too early”.
Docherty ruptured his ACL in the opening round against Brisbane but has noticeably ramped up his training over the past few weeks.
“I appreciate there’s an interest just because of the person he is and some of the things he’s been through, but he’s stepping through pretty well,” Voss said.
“For him to be out here and out on the grass running around, it’s great to see, but we’re probably firing a few shots a bit too early there.”
Source Agencies