‘Too many plodders': Have the Blues already peaked, or can they save their season?
When Michael Voss was appointed coach of Carlton after two middling full seasons under David Teague, then Carlton president Luke Sayers said the three-time Brisbane premiership skipper, also an experienced assistant and senior coach, had the attributes needed to fulfil the untapped potential on the Blues' list.
'We have done that [coaching change] because we believe, right at this period of time, that Michael is the best leader and the best coach to get what we believe is the untapped potential within our playing group,' Sayers, flanked by chief executive Brian Cook and Voss, said.
'Michael is a person of great integrity, of great values. He knows what success and high-performance looks and feels like and, if you strip it back, he is a real people's person with good EQ and very good relational skill sets, and when we look at our list, we think our list is really poised for great things when married up with those attributes and those skill sets which Vossy has in spades.'
Sayers made those comments in September 2021. Three-and-a-half seasons later, the potential of the Blues' list remains just that – untapped.
Has a spine that features Jacob Weitering, Patrick Cripps and Coleman medallists Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay achieved what they should have? Has the list has already been maxed out, that potential Sayers' spoke about having never been truly realised by fulfilling a premiership dream?
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As the clock ticked down at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, it dawned on supporters that the Blues were back to where they were at the mid-point of 2023 – fighting for respectability, let alone making the finals. They are 4-7 this year, and 17-18 since they ceded a 30-point lead and lost the 2023 preliminary final to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. In hindsight, was that this group's high point?
They have won just six of their past 20 games (including an elimination final defeat last year), of which there have been two wins apiece against lowly North Melbourne and West Coast. Geelong and St Kilda have been their only other victories.
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News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Reynolds reflects on huge loss
NRL: Adam Reynolds speaks to the Fox League panel after the Broncos round 13 loss to the Sea Eagles.
