No mercy from Lions as Carlton's woes continue

The Advertiser

10-07-2025

Carlton's horror run has continued with a 37-point loss to the Brisbane Lions as embattled coach Michael Voss desperately seeks to release a pressure valve.
The Blues went goalless for a 40-minute period from late in the second quarter and the reigning premiers romped to a 15.13 (103) to 9.12 (66) victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Brisbane's Josh Dunkley (28 disposals, 13 tackles) was awarded the inaugural Robert Walls Medal, struck in honour of the dual-club great, who died in May.
The only sore point for the Lions (12-4-1) was Noah Answerth's suspected season-ending achilles injury, which led to the defender's substitution before halftime.
Lachie Neale (31 disposals), Dayne Zorko (28) and Will Ashcroft (28) were all influential and Charlie Cameron (three majors) led a group of 11 Brisbane goal-kickers.
A fourth straight loss poured more heat on Carlton (6-11) and Voss in a tough period for the under-fire coach, who was the subject of a death threat last week.
Voss has been assured he is safe for the rest of the season, but is no guarantee to see out the final year of his contract.
"The pressure only comes from my own expectations about how we want to play and being dialled in on what that looks like for our players," Voss said.
"That's the only pressure that I feel. The eyes are well and truly in, and we've got a job to do.
"So for that next six or seven weeks, that's what we're determined to do."
Carlton trailed 20-0 after just nine minutes in a poor start headlined by one comical passage of play.
A Nick Haynes kick fell in Cam Rayner's lap when target Lachie Cowan collided with umpire Andrew Heffernan, and Rayner set up a Charlie Cameron goal.
Blues ruckman Marc Pittonet gave his side a lift with a 60-metre barrel that sailed through after the quarter-time siren, but was also part of the defence that bizarrely failed to touch a Will Ashcroft shot on the goal line in the second term.
Brisbane took a firm grip on the contest before half-time and a run of seven straight goals stretched their margin to 52 points by the final change as Carlton lost Orazio Fantasia to a hamstring injury.
The Lions were held goalless in the last quarter - 0.5 to 3.2 - but had the result comfortably in their keeping.
"Our pressure was good tonight," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
"We got 35 forward-half turnovers, which is a large number, 20 tackles inside-50, seven goals eight from forward-half turnovers.
"All that was on the back of pressure and good tackling, so it was a very good effort in that regard."
Carlton captain Cripps (26 disposals, nine clearances) and George Hewett (33, nine) battled against the tide, while spearhead Charlie Curnow went goalless for a fourth straight week.
Tom De Koning, who is weighing up a huge contract offer from St Kilda, received Bronx cheers from Blues fans and finished with one goal from 14 disposals playing predominantly in attack.
Carlton's horror run has continued with a 37-point loss to the Brisbane Lions as embattled coach Michael Voss desperately seeks to release a pressure valve.
The Blues went goalless for a 40-minute period from late in the second quarter and the reigning premiers romped to a 15.13 (103) to 9.12 (66) victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Brisbane's Josh Dunkley (28 disposals, 13 tackles) was awarded the inaugural Robert Walls Medal, struck in honour of the dual-club great, who died in May.
The only sore point for the Lions (12-4-1) was Noah Answerth's suspected season-ending achilles injury, which led to the defender's substitution before halftime.
Lachie Neale (31 disposals), Dayne Zorko (28) and Will Ashcroft (28) were all influential and Charlie Cameron (three majors) led a group of 11 Brisbane goal-kickers.
A fourth straight loss poured more heat on Carlton (6-11) and Voss in a tough period for the under-fire coach, who was the subject of a death threat last week.
Voss has been assured he is safe for the rest of the season, but is no guarantee to see out the final year of his contract.
"The pressure only comes from my own expectations about how we want to play and being dialled in on what that looks like for our players," Voss said.
"That's the only pressure that I feel. The eyes are well and truly in, and we've got a job to do.
"So for that next six or seven weeks, that's what we're determined to do."
Carlton trailed 20-0 after just nine minutes in a poor start headlined by one comical passage of play.
A Nick Haynes kick fell in Cam Rayner's lap when target Lachie Cowan collided with umpire Andrew Heffernan, and Rayner set up a Charlie Cameron goal.
Blues ruckman Marc Pittonet gave his side a lift with a 60-metre barrel that sailed through after the quarter-time siren, but was also part of the defence that bizarrely failed to touch a Will Ashcroft shot on the goal line in the second term.
Brisbane took a firm grip on the contest before half-time and a run of seven straight goals stretched their margin to 52 points by the final change as Carlton lost Orazio Fantasia to a hamstring injury.
The Lions were held goalless in the last quarter - 0.5 to 3.2 - but had the result comfortably in their keeping.
"Our pressure was good tonight," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
"We got 35 forward-half turnovers, which is a large number, 20 tackles inside-50, seven goals eight from forward-half turnovers.
"All that was on the back of pressure and good tackling, so it was a very good effort in that regard."
Carlton captain Cripps (26 disposals, nine clearances) and George Hewett (33, nine) battled against the tide, while spearhead Charlie Curnow went goalless for a fourth straight week.
Tom De Koning, who is weighing up a huge contract offer from St Kilda, received Bronx cheers from Blues fans and finished with one goal from 14 disposals playing predominantly in attack.
Carlton's horror run has continued with a 37-point loss to the Brisbane Lions as embattled coach Michael Voss desperately seeks to release a pressure valve.
The Blues went goalless for a 40-minute period from late in the second quarter and the reigning premiers romped to a 15.13 (103) to 9.12 (66) victory at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Brisbane's Josh Dunkley (28 disposals, 13 tackles) was awarded the inaugural Robert Walls Medal, struck in honour of the dual-club great, who died in May.
The only sore point for the Lions (12-4-1) was Noah Answerth's suspected season-ending achilles injury, which led to the defender's substitution before halftime.
Lachie Neale (31 disposals), Dayne Zorko (28) and Will Ashcroft (28) were all influential and Charlie Cameron (three majors) led a group of 11 Brisbane goal-kickers.
A fourth straight loss poured more heat on Carlton (6-11) and Voss in a tough period for the under-fire coach, who was the subject of a death threat last week.
Voss has been assured he is safe for the rest of the season, but is no guarantee to see out the final year of his contract.
"The pressure only comes from my own expectations about how we want to play and being dialled in on what that looks like for our players," Voss said.
"That's the only pressure that I feel. The eyes are well and truly in, and we've got a job to do.
"So for that next six or seven weeks, that's what we're determined to do."
Carlton trailed 20-0 after just nine minutes in a poor start headlined by one comical passage of play.
A Nick Haynes kick fell in Cam Rayner's lap when target Lachie Cowan collided with umpire Andrew Heffernan, and Rayner set up a Charlie Cameron goal.
Blues ruckman Marc Pittonet gave his side a lift with a 60-metre barrel that sailed through after the quarter-time siren, but was also part of the defence that bizarrely failed to touch a Will Ashcroft shot on the goal line in the second term.
Brisbane took a firm grip on the contest before half-time and a run of seven straight goals stretched their margin to 52 points by the final change as Carlton lost Orazio Fantasia to a hamstring injury.
The Lions were held goalless in the last quarter - 0.5 to 3.2 - but had the result comfortably in their keeping.
"Our pressure was good tonight," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
"We got 35 forward-half turnovers, which is a large number, 20 tackles inside-50, seven goals eight from forward-half turnovers.
"All that was on the back of pressure and good tackling, so it was a very good effort in that regard."
Carlton captain Cripps (26 disposals, nine clearances) and George Hewett (33, nine) battled against the tide, while spearhead Charlie Curnow went goalless for a fourth straight week.
Tom De Koning, who is weighing up a huge contract offer from St Kilda, received Bronx cheers from Blues fans and finished with one goal from 14 disposals playing predominantly in attack.