THE IMPORTANCE of the next two games is not lost on Michael Voss and Carlton.
With a game against the reigning premiers looming, the Blues can expect a challenging contest where the only option will be putting their best foot forward.
Voss said the next two games will really test the group, but ultimately, will help them see where they’re at in terms of the competition.
“Our energy has been focused on the way we want to play, how we want to play against Melbourne and the threats that they’ll put forward to us to prevent us from playing our best footy,” Voss said.
“We’re just looking forward to it – the next two weeks are really exciting.
“It’s great exposure for our group. We’re playing in two really big games, and it starts with Melbourne on the weekend.”
One thing Voss doesn’t want to get bogged down in is limits on his side, noting that the transformation the team has gone through since this time last year has been "enormous".
However, they don't want to shy away from the task at hand and what lies ahead.
“We’ve been able to create so much transformation throughout this year and we’ve seen enormous growth,” he said.
“That doesn’t leave us satisfied. We feel like we’ve got more left in the tank, and we want to have a say in what’s left and we’re looking forward to that.”
Voss said with only two games left in the home-and-away season, his expectation is that the Blues play out the season with the same hunger, values, style and connectedness that they have been working on all year.
“My expectation is that we stay connected as a footy team and play the style of footy that’s got us to this point of the season,” he said.
“We don’t shy away from those goals, but I also haven’t put a limit on those goals and what that looks like.
"We’ve got some really important things in our process that we’re going to have to get right, and that we’ll have to correct pretty quick: that gives us the best opportunity to win games.”
The crowd is expected to be overflowing for the next two MCG games, with Voss already expecting a bumper crowd - with a healthy dose of Navy Blue - for Saturday night’s clash.
Voss noted that fans should have belief for what’s to come for this group, as the team continues to play in some crucial games in the backend of the season, marking a different challenge compared to previous years for the players.
“The most important thing that Carlton fans should be excited about is winning games that matter – we’re in the bookend of the season and we’re really looking forward to getting out in front of them,” he said.
“We expect there to be a really big crowd, we know the opposition really well and our challenge is going out there and playing our best footy.
“We’re pretty pumped about that, and excited about having the opportunity.”
