CARLTON AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss described the last time that his side met Fremantle as “an audit on our system”.

But it was the Blues’ ability to acknowledge and learn from those lessons which was the catalyst for the victory most in the football world have labelled as the team’s best of the season to date.

Back in April, Carlton struggled to get a foothold on the game in enemy territory. In the 35-point defeat, Fremantle dominated field position, pressuring Voss’ side into mistakes as the host posted a +18 inside 50 differential.

FULL TRANSCRIPT Voss on "best performance of the year"

It was the Blues’ forward pressure - and the players’ ability to sustain that - which flipped the result on its head this time around.

Speaking post-match, Voss was steadfast in his belief that it was not only the Blues’ biggest win of the season, but it came about on the back of their best all-round performance.

“We’ve had moments where we’ve been on and off and we haven’t been able to get a four-quarter performance. This wasn’t just against any side, but a side that was second on the ladder,” he said.

“They test you in every way. To be able to go to work on that, work ono our game and take feedback, there’s humility in that.

“To learn, to be able to adjust and then to face them again and put in place some of the things we learnt, it was a signature win and the best win we’ve had.”

Voss said that, in what is his first season at the Navy Blue helm, the team would continue to be thrown challenges to negotiate, particularly in the second half of the season.

That was even the case yesterday, as the Blues dominated all areas of the game in the first quarter but couldn’t break through for some scoreboard reward.

That ultimately eventuated, and it came about from the playing group sticking to the system.

“We’re in a transitional year. We’re finding these important moments to confirm the direction we’re going on,” he said.

“You can probably excuse [the players] for not getting a lot of confidence after the first half when the scoreboard wasn’t ticking over… fortunately, the players stuck at that task and they kept bringing that heat.

“We fully appreciate where we’ve come from as well as where we’re going. The boys speak a fair bit about how much this means to them — they’re a hungry group.”

Conversation all week centred around Carlton’s personnel following some injuries to the team’s defensive stocks, with Voss remaining consistent in his thoughts on the matter.

It was reflected once again in his words post-match after his Blues were able to get the job done.

“Sometimes you can ask the question about who’s not there and I want to answer that for you, but I don’t believe in that — it’s about who is there, what we’re able to do and how we stay connected as a group.

“If we bring all that, it provides a chance. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it gives you a chance.”