Carlton coach Michael Voss says folks can be improper to imagine the Blues can’t “thrive” within the ultimate moments of tight video games after a irritating draw within the season opener.
The Blues have now performed in three consecutive AFL video games determined by lower than a objective, coming away with solely final weekend’s two premiership factors.
Kysaiah Pickett’s matchwinning objective with 11 seconds left toppled the Blues by 5 factors in spherical 22 final season earlier than worse heartbreak adopted with the notorious one-point loss to Collingwood.
The Magpies additionally held off a late barrage to defeat the Blues by 4 factors in spherical 11, however Carlton did win two video games determined by beneath a objective in 2022, towards Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.
Voss mentioned there have been some selections made late within the Richmond recreation he wished could possibly be taken again, however there have been no structural points with Carlton’s strategy in the course of the ultimate phases.
“We had a great discussion, there’s some really important lessons out of that. Once we looked at the system, we felt like the boys really stayed connected through those moments,” Voss mentioned.
“They were able to execute what we were after from a system point of view.
“There’s probably a couple of decisions that we would like back. When you go through these moments, the unfortunate thing if you don’t finish it, there’s obviously going to be a fair focus on it.”
Carlton was in a greater place to ship in essential moments following the draw, Voss mentioned.
“I think every team wants to be sitting there playing in front of 88,000 people, the game’s on the line, you’re in those moments and how do you thrive in those moments?” he mentioned.
“I think we’re making a real assumption here that we haven’t been able to thrive in these moments previously.
“There’s been plenty where we’ve thrived and there’s been big moments where our leaders have stood up.”
Voss mentioned the Blues would discover their “sweet spot” with how they may use the brand new substitute rule after bringing on prolific runner Lochie O’Brien for the ultimate quarter towards Richmond.
He mentioned George Hewett can be examined afterward Wednesday after his hand was stood on towards Richmond, whereas Marc Pittonet was “ready to go” if required towards Geelong on Thursday evening.
“I think where the dialogue has been lost with Pitto is we’ve sort of forgotten that he just wasn’t ready,” Voss mentioned.
“Maybe that was a little bit clouded by the fact he played the week before, but we had no other game to play, so we felt like we needed to get a game under his belt, at least a half.
“He’s got another game under his belt, he’s certainly stated a case, that’s for sure. We feel like he’s well and truly closer to being able to come back into the AFL team.”
Source: www.news.com.au
