For the Blues to really make the September running this season, the next step has to be taken: going from good to great.
One of the benchmarks for this? Dominance in the home-and-away season, rather than falling into finals.
There is plenty of expectation surrounding Carlton ahead of season 2024, led by captain Patrick Cripps, coach Michael Voss, and star forward Harry McKay.Credit: Artwork: Stephen Kiprillis
Positive steps were taken last season when the Blues rallied in the second half of the season, winning eight of their final 10 games to make the finals, before advancing to the club’s first preliminary final since 2000. But the first half of the season was diabolical, with coach Michael Voss under severe pressure as the fans revolted on the back of Carlton’s tally of a season-opening draw, eight losses and just four wins to round 13.
“You never want to put a ceiling on wins and losses. But I think what Vossy alludes to a lot within the group is always improving and being the best version of ourselves,” star forward Harry McKay told this masthead.
“We want to be a really strong home-and-away season side, and, more importantly, we want to be the best version of ourselves and always get better. What that looks like in the landscape of wins and losses, we don’t know, but we are really big on what we can control and trying to be better every day. We know that translates to some good footy, and that’s what we are after.”
McKay echoed his coach’s belief his team needs to make a statement through the home-and-away campaign, which starts for the Blues with an opening round contest against the preliminary final conquerors, the Brisbane Lions, on March 8.
Home-and-away hopes: Harry McKay has backed Michael Voss’ vision for the Blues to be a great regular season team.Credit: Getty Images
As the injury-hit Carlton begin to deal with heightened finals expectations ahead of the new season, Voss told the AFL website “we haven’t even become a great home-and-away side yet. That’s our reality.”
The Blues finished fifth on the ladder last year with 13 wins and a draw, well behind eventual premiers Collingwood, who had a September berth locked up by August, and finished on top of the ladder with 18 wins. If that wasn’t enough, the Magpies had 16 wins a season earlier, a body of work which means they can be called a “great home-and-away side”.
Bringing the heat: The next step in the Blues’ quest for greatness
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24.02.2024
For the Blues to really make the September running this season, the next step has to be taken: going from good to great.
One of the benchmarks for this? Dominance in the home-and-away season, rather than falling into finals.
There is plenty of expectation surrounding Carlton ahead of season 2024, led by captain Patrick Cripps, coach Michael Voss, and star forward Harry McKay.Credit: Artwork: Stephen Kiprillis
Positive steps were taken last season when the Blues rallied in the second half of the season, winning eight of their final 10 games to make the finals, before advancing to the club’s........
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