'Working our arses off' - Blues re-set for Bombers test
"For us it's pretty simple - it's just our connection, we think," says defender Mitch McGovern.
"We've been doing a lot of work - and it started over the pre-season.
"Unfortunately it hasn't come to fruition out on the oval, but we've been working our arses off trying to get that right."
That inability to make the most of their defence and contested-ball work as they head into attack has been a big reason Carlton's season is on the precipice with a 4-7 record.
Rather than have a mid-season camp, as they famously did two years ago, the Blues went their separate ways.
McGovern, being the father of three children, visited Werribee Zoo.
They will return to action in the King's Birthday eve clash on Sunday night against arch-rivals Essendon, who similarly are outside the top eight and badly in need of a win.
Asked who are underdogs for the game, McGovern replied: "great question - ask the bookies."
Standing next to Essendon key forward Peter Wright at an MCG media call on Monday, McGovern said the Blues must be more selfless as they try to solve their connection issues going into attack.
Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay are obvious forward targets, but Carlton must be more selective.
"We're doing a lot right. We're defending really well ... we just need to finish, our players are getting opportunities," McGovern said.
"The competition is too even to not have a consistent four-quarter effort, which we've shown over the last six weeks, where we've let teams back into it.
"It's a hard one, like having Peter up in the forward line for Essendon. When you have a tall target like Charlie and Harry, it's hard to not kick to them when you know how good they are and what they can produce.
"It's more for us being selfless teammates and bringing other people into the game more, how to score better as a collective rather than individuals."
Equally, the Blues know they must not throw the baby out with the bath water, as their defence and contest work is giving them opportunities.
"We can't just focus in on what's not working, we have to focus in on what we're good at," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss on what the Blues need to improve in 2026
An injection of speed and class with the ball will be at the top of Carlton's priority list after its disappointing 2025 season. The Blues will miss finals regardless of the result against Essendon on Thursday night after entering the year with expectations of featuring in September. They have already lost defender Sam Docherty to retirement and will likely lose star ruckman Tom De Koning to St Kilda through free agency. Rejuvenated defender Jack Silvagni could also explore his options elsewhere, having met with Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Essendon. Despite set to shed some experience, Carlton coach Michael Voss said the Blues needed dash and dexterity to put 'on the edges' of a proven spine. 'Every list has got needs from tall and small and run – ideally, clearly, we want to bring in some speed and ball use,' Voss said. 'That would be nice on the edges to bring that. We've already got some guys who haven't played a lot of football we can bring into the team immediately that will be a difference for us in that area. '(Matt) Cottrell (and Jagga) Smith. (Sam) Walsh has come back in and you've seen the impact he has. 'A lot of these players we haven't had for most of the year, but we're looking forward to finishing off the year.' The Blues will have nearly a dozen players ruled out of their final match of the season against Essendon on Thursday night. Voss said Carlton had been tested with a different type of injury plague this year and again needed to add some depth in the off-season. 'We need some depth, that's been a priority for us – that's probably going back a long way to go forward,' he said. 'We obviously thought the durability of the list wasn't where it needed to be last year. We had soft tissue injuries, there was just too many. 'We went and worked on that as a list … unfortunately, we've had different types of injuries, a lot of trauma this year but felt like we've controlled what we needed to control. 'Our high performance and medical team have done an absolutely amazing job trying to manage the year and our program. 'We've just been a little bit unlucky, so we've got to ride that bit out, be really strong on the things that have worked for us in the program and double down on those things that make our program stronger. 'Part of that is the players we bring in, the youth we bring in and the exposure they get – we've been able to do that and they're growing in confidence on that and building their capacity.'
West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
AFL 2025: Carlton coach on the idea of Tom De Koning playing his final game for the club
A hopeful rather than confident Carlton coach Michael Voss conceded the Blues' only case to keep Tom De Koning is his established bonds with the playing group. De Koning has been one of the most talked about free agents this season amid an offer in the vicinity of $1.7 million per season by St Kilda. The brilliant big man will celebrate his 100th and potentially final game as a Blue this Thursday night against Essendon. If he is to join the Saints, he will stand alongside the recently-signed Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera after he knocked back a return home on Monday. Voss said he had no indication from De Koning, joking the 'three-a-day updates' hadn't changed, before admitting mateship was the Blues' only pull for him to stay. 'I was reading the Nasiah comments and however that's played out behind the scenes I'm not sure but Ross (Lyon) found out five minutes before,' he said. 'Sometimes it can happen as simple as that but we've maintained all along it's about what we're doing right now and how he turns up for us. 'We'll let that play out but it shouldn't overshadow the 100 games he's played for this club and the contribution he's made. 'Even in my time he's evolved himself as a player, he had aspirations to be that permanent ruckman (and) knocked at my door weekly wanting to be that player. 'He was challenged about what was needed to be able to take that mantle, he's taken all of that on board and has really formed his identity around that role. 'I guess the only case we have is we have a group he's growing with, it's still relatively youngish as a midfield group and we'd love for him to be a part of that.' If De Koning does depart the Blues, he would head to Moorabbin on one of the AFL's longest contracts. Voss, a champion player, said he was given some sound advice when he was a young player about contracts and said he'd tried to pass it onto all his players as a coach. 'Shane O'Sullivan, who's our football manager, he negotiated my first contract and it was $500 for a loss and $1500 for a win,' he recalled with a laugh. 'I didn't earn a lot of money back in those days, I was still in school so at least I could buy a Cherry Ripe and a Big M at lunchtime and that was about as good as it got. 'Needless to say the situation has changed a lot but I never really had any long contracts, I loved where I was. 'My Dad always gave me the great advice: 'Look after your football, you'll never have to worry what you get paid and love where you are and you'll never have to worry about what you get paid'. 'I reckon it's been great advice and any advice I ever give any player it's always first and foremost that.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Team bond only pull for Blue to stay
A hopeful rather than confident Carlton coach Michael Voss conceded the Blues' only case to keep Tom De Koning is his established bonds with the playing group. De Koning has been one of the most talked about free agents this season amid an offer in the vicinity of $1.7 million per season by St Kilda. The brilliant big man will celebrate his 100th and potentially final game as a Blue this Thursday night against Essendon. If he is to join the Saints, he will stand alongside the recently-signed Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera after he knocked back a return home on Monday. Voss said he had no indication from De Koning, joking the 'three-a-day updates' hadn't changed, before admitting mateship was the Blues' only pull for him to stay. 'I was reading the Nasiah comments and however that's played out behind the scenes I'm not sure but Ross (Lyon) found out five minutes before,' he said. Tom De Koning (R) shares a hug with coach Michael Voss. Photo by Michael Klein. Credit: News Corp Australia 'Sometimes it can happen as simple as that but we've maintained all along it's about what we're doing right now and how he turns up for us. 'We'll let that play out but it shouldn't overshadow the 100 games he's played for this club and the contribution he's made. 'Even in my time he's evolved himself as a player, he had aspirations to be that permanent ruckman (and) knocked at my door weekly wanting to be that player. 'He was challenged about what was needed to be able to take that mantle, he's taken all of that on board and has really formed his identity around that role. 'I guess the only case we have is we have a group he's growing with, it's still relatively youngish as a midfield group and we'd love for him to be a part of that.' If De Koning does depart the Blues, he would head to Moorabbin on one of the AFL's longest contracts. Voss, a champion player, said he was given some sound advice when he was a young player about contracts and said he'd tried to pass it onto all his players as a coach. 'Shane O'Sullivan, who's our football manager, he negotiated my first contract and it was $500 for a loss and $1500 for a win,' he recalled with a laugh. 'I didn't earn a lot of money back in those days, I was still in school so at least I could buy a Cherry Ripe and a Big M at lunchtime and that was about as good as it got. 'Needless to say the situation has changed a lot but I never really had any long contracts, I loved where I was. 'My Dad always gave me the great advice: 'Look after your football, you'll never have to worry what you get paid and love where you are and you'll never have to worry about what you get paid'. 'I reckon it's been great advice and any advice I ever give any player it's always first and foremost that.'
