‘Kind of loss that gets a coach sacked’: Blues ‘insipid and devoid of hope’ leaving Voss in a spiral

Carlton’s season is all but over after the “insipid” Blues were embarrassed in an ugly 50-point belting at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Despite the need to respond to a horror week of headlines and speculation surrounding coach Michael Voss’ job, the Blues didn’t fire a shot in a “nightmare” first half.

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“They just weren’t up for the fight,” two-time premiership Roo David King said.

Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph said he was now “terrified” for the Blues in their coming games against ladder leaders Collingwood and Brisbane.

“I think you can easily make the case that this is the worst loss of the Michael Voss era, so nearly four years now,” he said.

“A line in the sand game – absolutely everything to play for and they lay that egg. This is the kind of seismic loss that eventually gets a coach sacked.

Michael Voss made his way down to coach on the bench. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

“I’m terrified of what Collingwood and Brisbane will do to this side in coming weeks. They’ve just been embarrassed by 12th and 17th.”

Described as being “not up to standard” by Fox Footy’s Mark Ricciuto, Carlton were savaged for their first half efforts that netted just one goal moments out from half time.

“It was basically insipid,” AFL great Jason Dunstall said at half time.

“I’m really disappointed with the effort the Blues have shown.

“They are devoid of confidence, they looked to be devoid of hope. They’ve been devoid of skill in the first half – it’s like the football world has just caved in on top of them and they don’t know what to do.

“The weight of pressure, they’ve just collapsed underneath it.”

Former Saint Leigh Montagna agreed the Blues’ efforts were sub-par.

“Looks like to me a group that have lost belief,” he said.

“The question now is whether Michael Voss is starting to lose the group. He hasn’t got the response he would have been after. They haven’t played anything like they did in regards to their pressure and clearance numbers which have been strong for the majority of the year.

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“They looked to me a team that’s lost hope.

“They think the season is done and they played like it.

“They didn’t show any spirit, any fight. They were flat. They were lacklustre and they got towelled up.”

Montagna said the Blues were “panicking” in the first half while their ball use was “deplorable” in their front half.

“You just wonder if there’s anything left inside them,” Dunstall questioned.

“I’ve never seen a group go so into their shell and not want to be aggressive, not want to answer the critics and all the criticism that has come over recent weeks, in particular the last seven days.

“I thought this was the outlet to get it out, to show we’ve still got some fight and we still think our season is alive. You can count on one hand the players that have been competitive.”

Questions about the club’s future are now growing louder, with Dunstall adamant “there are genuine holes on their list”.

“Everyone’s tradeable if the deal is the right deal,” he said.

Oliver Hollands reacts after another Port goal. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

“They need midfielders that use the ball better – they’ve got terrific blue collar, hardworking midfielders. We know what Crippa (captain Patrick Cripps) is like as a leader but none of them are great kicks.

“They need people that can genuinely kick the ball, run and carry and carve up the opposition … They don’t have it.”

With eight games to play, the Blues would need to win at least six of them – but face a horror month ahead including games against ladder leaders Collingwood and Brisbane, and top eight contenders Hawthorn and Fremantle.

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