ON THE right path. 

Despite a positive trend over the last month, AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss knows his group are far from where they need to be. 

Speaking on Friday morning to the media, Voss said that while the team was heading in the right direction, they still had a lot to do before they could earn the respect of the competition. 

Urging his side to always hunt for improvement, the coach said they would never settle for less as they look for their fourth win in a row. 

“I think the right path is a good way to explain it,” Voss said. 

“In these sort of environments, you never rest on what you’ve done: you’re always looking for the next bit of improvement and we’ve got that in us.”

Whilst the message hasn’t changed for Carlton, the execution and mentality is what has impressed Voss, and has been the key to their winning form in the last month.

Not totally going back to basics, Voss and his coaching staff did simplify some key areas that he felt were getting lost in translation in high-pressure situations. 

“The biggest change has been our consistency in contest and pressure around the field – we’ve maintained that as a message for some period of time, but it has gained a lot of traction in the last little while,” he said. 

“We were looking at the really important pieces that we need to get right and sometimes that just comes in the simplest forms.” 

Speaking on his former side in Port Adelaide - where Voss spent eight years as an assistant coach - the challenge is very evident for Carlton. 

Currently in the midst of a 13-game winning streak, Voss said that his side are very aware of what they’re up against when they face the in-form team of the competition.

Voss also dismissed any personnel issues Port may be facing, noting their history in negotiating such issues and Carlton’s responsibility to focus on its own game. 

“Based on personnel that is there or not there, that should make no difference to how we approach it. If nothing else, the respect comes to the football team by the sheer fact that based on results, they’re probably the best team in the competition,” he said.

“They’ve been able to navigate challenges and threats that come their way and still be able to be on the positive side. 

“We’re still trying to develop ourselves and still trying to grow and look for that element of consistency in our game and this presents a pretty good challenge and an exciting challenge for us.”