RISE to the occasion.

Carlton is under no illusions it’ll have to be on its game when taking on reigning premier Collingwood for another clash with the old enemy.

With the game also serving as the 29th Peter Mac Cup, as well as the AFL standing against domestic violence, there was plenty for AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss to get through in his weekly pre-match press conference.

This is what he had to say.

On the follow-up from last week’s game:

“We had a look at all phases that we clearly want to reinforce that make us play well. It’s had a bit more of a lens on how we defend as a team and how we didn’t convert our moments. We spent a bit of time on that.

“I settled down after 48 hours, but that’s the job. Sometimes your first instincts on the game you don’t always go with, because you don’t have the full picture. You can certainly get a sense of how you think the game has played out, and you spend a bit of time looking through the vision to see what you felt and does that match up with the actions. 

“We felt we fell below the standards of how we want to defend. It’s got nothing to do with change, it’s got to do with reinforcement: we felt for moments in games, for small periods, we opened that window up for Geelong to convert and they scored a little bit too easily on the back of it. We all have a responsibility to that part of the game.”

On his confidence of a response:

“You never know until the following week, or even the weeks afterwards. It’s been a fairly consistent message from us for a period of time. I’ve stood here every week and spoken about what we want to value as a football team: clearly we want to win every game we play in, but how we play is just as important. We put a high priority on that. 

“We could’ve won that game, but we would’ve walked away with the same feeling I hope. We want to play to a certain standard, and opposition will provide different challenges for us. We have respect for every team we play against, so it’s not so much about respecting our opponent — it’s more about how we want to play. 

“We feel like we fell short of what that looks like, but it’s still up to us to be able to provide that clarity on what we want to get after and what are the things that are going to be important for us this week, playing against Collingwood who provide their own threats.”

On the players’ reaction this week:

“In terms of the players wanting to get after it, it’s been good and it’s been healthy. We only ever know when we turn up to the next week. We’ve got a very good team and what a crowd we’re going to get. We’re really privileged that we get that exposure, to be able to play against a team like Collingwood. 

“To put that on the MCG in front of the crowd we’re going to get, as a club we’ve tried to embrace those moments as a privilege, to be able to walk out there and try and do that. I feel like we’ve got the clarity we need, so now we’ve got to get out there and execute.”

On embracing the rivalry:

“Collingwood is very easy, we’ve had more than a history — even in a previous lifetime at a different club. When you come to Carlton, that’s only reinforced. It’s history you get to tap back into, it’s all part of your story. It’s really important to understand where you’ve come from and why it’s important as a club. 

“The only reason they become rivalries is because you have relevance, you’re playing big games against one another and important moments in seasons. Both these clubs have. They’ve played against each other in the home-and-away season, in finals against one another, in Grand Finals against one another. 

“Understanding the history of that is really important because when we go out there on the weekend, we can’t do much about that history except play the next moment. We’ve had some recent history with them in the last couple of years, they’ve been able to go on and experience the ultimate and we haven’t. We’re still chasing us, but we also acknowledge the game and the rivalry that exists. We’re looking forward to it.”

On harnessing past experiences with the Pies:

“Our journey is made up of lessons. We hope we’ve learned what some of those lessons look like. It makes us a better version of what we are today. 

“We’ve tried to take all of those particular moments in most recent times, I’m talking about our time together since I’ve been coach. It hasn’t been just those moments, we’ve had some unbelievable moments where we’ve thrived in those particular circumstances. We feel like that all coming together tips into these particular games, and when those moments come which we need to own, we’re ready for them.”

On the Club playing more games at the MCG:

“We’ve spoken about that, I know it’s on the agenda for the Club. At the end of the day, it’s over to the AFL to decide. Our people are making a strong statement about turning up and being present at the MCG and turning up in numbers. 

“We’d love that to happen, but we also understand there’s a process to go through to make that happen. Where we can explore it, we will.”

On Adam Cerra’s availability:

“We will [see him at AFL level]. He’s come up quite well. 

“He could’ve been right on the edge last week, but we were a bit more conservative behind it. He’s been able to train really well, he’ll be ready to go.”

On David Cuningham’s potential selection:

“I won’t declare any others at this point in time, I won’t tell you the whole team just yet! I’ll confirm Adam for now.”

On Mitch McGovern’s availability:

“I won’t confirm the whole lot . . . no, he’s not ready for this week. He’s more likely for next week.”

On the Club’s membership announcement this week:

“The 100k, what a great achievement that’s been. Being able to see our supporters every week, I’ve spoken about this a lot. 

“I’m sure you’ve heard the players talk about it as well, the fact that you get to go to the MCG and play in front of 90,000 people, I share my own personal story with the players around my experience and my first few games. Some of the really unique that our players get, Lachie Cowan being able to play his eighth game in front of 90,000 people is a special privilege we get to be able to have. 

“Over these particular times, it’s about normalising that exposure. We feel that’s what makes us unique, that we have the supporter base we do and the noise we get is pretty special.”

On the AFL’s stand against domestic violence:

“I think it’s a terrific initiative. We’re trying to create awareness around something we should take a strong leadership position in, as community leaders. We’ve all got a role to play in that. 

“If it shines a lot and gives awareness to that, if it puts more education around it, if it communicates the standards we expect from one another, then what a wonderful opportunity that is to be able to do that. We’ve been invested in this space for quite a period of time with our Carlton Respects, there’s been an enormous amount of work that’s been done. 

“I think the numbers themselves just show how important this particular message is, and just how much change we need in this space. It needs to happen now, not later.”

On the Pies being without Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell:

“I reckon they’ve got enough coverage — they’re a pretty good team! What we’ve prided ourselves on is we feel we’ve got a system that stands up. Clearly having talent in that to drive that helps, they’ve got a couple of pieces missing but I’m sure they’ll put in a couple of pieces that are ready for their own turn. 

“We need to make sure that while we’re talking about the threats they bring, we still are able to play the style of football we want to be able to bring. I hear them talk a lot about their pressure, we value it as well. It’ll be an interesting byplay in itself.”

On tagging Nick Daicos:

“Possibly, they have a few little tricks which they’re able to do with how he’s able to move around the ground. Sometimes you can spend some time getting after one player and then it can pull apart the rest of what you’re trying to achieve. We’ve got to find the balance in that. There’s no code in that message by the way, it’s just the considerations for us to be able to take on should we go down that path.

On speaking to close mate Craig McRae this week, and the Club’s involvement with Peter Mac:

“No, I saw him at the Peter Mac Breakfast: that’s another really important thing for us this week. That’s got a real special meaning to us with ‘Doc’ and his journey. 

“We’ve all been impacted on some level with someone, whether family or friend, that’s had cancer at some point in time. That’s been really important. In some ways, while that rivalry does exist and we’ll be putting our best foot out there, to be able to come together as two football clubs for a bigger issue - both around domestic violence, but also Peter Mac - is important for us as a football club. 

“It’ll be a special thing done at the start, so I encourage people to have bums on seats at around 7:35pm if they can. Hopefully it’ll be a special moment to acknowledge as well. 

“I caught up with ‘Fly’ then, but there’s been no exchange other than we’re ready to go!”

On wearing the retro playing guernsey at training this week:

“It’s a little bit of retro round, a little bit of rivalry, a little bit of fun. I thought I’d go old school, old coach who used to dress up in their full kit back in the day. 

“’Wallsy’ was my first coach, and I came across a photo of ‘Wallsy' back in the day coaching in full kit. I thought I’d throw on the full kit and see what happens. I went the retro jumper, it was a bit of a laugh, and then after five minutes I’d had enough and wanted to go inside and get changed. It felt a bit abnormal, but it was just a bit of fun. 

“I definitely won’t be wearing it tomorrow night! No gun show tomorrow, no suns out so no guns out. We’ll put that away for the night I reckon!”