Voss urges building Blues to hit new level in Adelaide
Coach Michael Voss is bullish about Carlton's "gradual build" hitting another level with a coveted away win against Adelaide.
The Blues have rallied from a 0-4 start and carry three consecutive wins into Saturday's clash at Adelaide Oval against the Crows.
"We had some confidence early days about what we were doing, clearly we weren't able to execute for long enough," Voss told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
"It's a pretty tight competition and what we've been able to be, is be able to play close to our best more often.
"We haven't probably relied on one phase of the game, even though defence has been a strong point of ours.
"We have been able to get a few other parts of our game going as well.
"That has given us more balance and hopefully a few more challenges for the opposition to be able to take on."
Another week, another occasion where Corey Durdin took us Higher 😏A second consecutive Mark of the Year nomination for our No.19!VOTE FOR DURDS: https://t.co/awtdO4AB6Y pic.twitter.com/m1reBYA1xD
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) April 28, 2025
Voss lost injured trio Jack Silvagni, Zac Williams and Matthew Cottrell with Sam Docherty, Lewis Young and Lachlan Cowan recalled.
The Crows, who still hold fifth spot despite three loss in four games, made four changes with Nick Murray and Matt Crouch injured, Mitch Hinge suspended and rookie Sid Draper dropped.
Key forward Darcy Fogarty, veteran Brodie Smith, Sam Berry and Jordon Butts have been summoned.
Fogarty's return from a shoulder injury bolsters a threatening Adelaide attack boasting Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe.
"They've been all been scoring threats, haven't they?," Voss said.
"But I just don't think it's their talls.
"You have got to probably look at their system a bit and the way they've been able to flow the ball and and get speed on the ball has been particularly impressive.
"And the smalls have been able to hit the scoreboard as well.
"We'll have those individual battles clearly but there's going to be a system in behind it that relies on a little bit of pressure on the ball coming down.
"Otherwise if it's pretty clean, anyone's going to have a hard day."
The Blues, after seven-straight losses at Adelaide Oval from 2014 to 2023, have won their past three at the venue - though two have been Gather Round games against WA clubs and they haven't played the Crows there since a 2023 defeat.
"Our history before our last three games wasn't very good, so we've sort of been able to break the back of that," Voss said.
"Obviously, Adelaide (Crows) presents another challenge itself.
"But I'm big on you don't play the venue ... we've got a responsibility how we turn up."
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