AN OUTSTANDING performance against outstanding opposition.
Michael Voss was a proud coach in the aftermath of Carlton's stirring 19-point win over GWS in Round 6, built off the back of clarity and belief in the team system.
Backed by a rocking home crowd, the Blues stormed home in the second half from 20 points down to triumph by three goals against the unbeaten Giants, returning to winning form after last week's narrow defeat.
This is what Voss had to say.
On his take on the game:
"The phases of our game came together closer today. In the early parts of the season, we’ve had two be going okay and then one that’s been slightly off. Early in the game, the way we defended or the pressure we got on the ball wasn’t exactly where we needed it to be in the first half. We dialled in on that at half time, and fortunately we were able to turn that around.
"That gave us some really good looks on the other side of the ball. A really pleasing performance. In the second quarter, we were well and truly up against it and I think what shows your growth as a team is when you can absorb that, acknowledge it’s happened but then be able to lock in and tug back the score by a couple of goals late. It gives you a bit of a look. That was a really important part, not just the second half."
On the calibre of the opposition:
"There were lots of opportunities to be able to attack. We took our moments. But with incomplete plays, it put pressure on us to be able to defend a bit faster. It felt like we tidied that up both with the ball, and also without it.
"That helped us get the pressure back on the ball and get the game back into a contest. They’re an impressive side, GWS. They’re hard to try and stop at the best of times, a very good transition team. We were able to do pretty well in that space today."
On the two-ruck dynamic:
"The more games they play together, the better they’re going to be. The match fitness to be able to play those games, equally with Tom being able to play forward and hit the scoreboard, he was able to do his part as well. It’s a good combination. We find it’s a unique strength of ours. To see them in both good form is particularly pleasing.
"Their form says a lot as well. There’s a lot of discussion on two rucks or not two rucks. We’ve got a style of play we want to play, and clearly we had the dominance around the ball at centre-square bounce. Their games were impactful today."
On the forward mix:
"We were able to kick a pretty healthy score tonight, which was pleasing. As well, when the ball was on the floor, we got to work and we got the presence we needed.
"There’s a few new faces in there and a few new bodies from last year to this year, with Fantasia being there and Elijah Hollands coming into that part of the ground. You’re playing a different combination at times. Being able to build out that connection and cohesion will be important over the course of the year. Games like tonight against a quality defence, they’re good wins."
On Zac Williams:
"A corkie, at the moment. We took a fairly precautionary approach there, and same with ‘Weiters’. We’re hoping there’s nothing there."
On the next-man-in approach:
"You need flexibility when you lose a defender, we’ve had that in the last two weeks where we’ve lost a defender and Matty [Kennedy] has done it on both occasions. He’s done really well for him to be able to slide back. What I hope it speaks to is that it’s next man up.
"To be able to take a squad approach to it all, guys are embracing the roles given to them and they’re getting the job done. That breeds a lot of confidence in the team. When others can step in and get the job done, they support the person that’s stepping in next. We had a couple of new faces in the backline today, Lachie Cowan comes in, Lewis Young came in as well. A different mix, but they certainly got the job done."
On Jacob Weitering:
"Just a corkie. It was a huge effort, because his mobility wasn’t fantastic, but he just hung in there as he does. He didn’t complain once, he just got on with it."
On Jordan Boyd's performance on Toby Greene:
"That was a really important role for us tonight: Greene is a wonderful player, a very dangerous player, and Zac had first dibs at it. Our defensive coach Aaron Hamill said he thought ‘Boydy’ was up for the task, so credit goes to him and ‘Boydy’ for taking on that job. He did a great job, a really great job. For a bloke who hasn’t played a lot of footy to take it on was really impressive."
On Curnow and McKay's partnership:
"If you look across the season, they’re getting separation really well. That’s credit to them and taking that team approach, the type of system that we need to be able to play. They step up when it’s their turn. I hope that’s something that is a trait we’re all trying to achieve, not just Harry and Charlie.
"We’ll all get the benefit of it hopefully. Certainly talking to those two, they love playing with each other, they got a lot of looks tonight and they were able to capitalise at different times. We need them, they’re important players to our team."
