'I hope they all listened': Superstar's post-game act lauded… but ...

Carlton coach Michael Voss insists alarm bells are not ringing at Princes Park, but a “reset” is in order after a second straight loss courtesy of a 14-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

“We need to reset now,” Voss said.

“We’ve had a couple of losses and it’s quite clear what we need to get after, and we’ve got a couple of things we need to correct. Get a little bit more consistent than we currently are.

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“It felt like at times we were not very reliable.”

Voss is not the only leader at Carlton who was likely to tell the players that their efforts were not up to standard post-game.

200th gamer Patrick Cripps gathered his team together without the presence of coaches.

A disappointed Patrick Cripps. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Voss is certain that his captain told the team exactly what they needed to hear.

“I think where ‘Crippa’ has really developed himself is that he can sort of zoom out and feel the energy of the group. He knows where he needs to take them,” Voss said.

“I’m not going to ask what he said. That’s between him and his players. What I will say is I hope they all listened.”

The Blues have looked like a different side since quarter-time against the Giants last week, smashed at ground level with their pressure dropping off drastically.

The Bulldogs gave Carlton an opening when they misfired with 0.7 in the first term, but they failed to capitalise and let their opponents back in by coughing up seven goals in the second quarter for a second straight week.

Carlton never hit the front after a half-time as the Bulldogs kept the Blues at bay with their ferocity at the fall of the ball ensuring they maintained control of the contest.

“It felt like a high-paced, high-intensity game. Certainly the person with the ball in his hands didn’t have a lot of time,” Voss said.

“Generally, that is a strength of ours but it was something we were shaded on in the night.

“We were on the chase for most of the game. It never really felt like we were in a position to win it. They kept us at bay for most of the game, that 10 to 15 to 16 points it hovered in and every time we got close they got an easy one back.”

Charlie Curnow was wayward in front of goal with 3.7 – including three behinds in the final quarter as the Blues attempted to mount a comeback.

Curnow had no issue getting his hands on the ball against Buku Khamis, but Voss attributed his inaccuracy partly to the position the team were in.

“It felt like we were on the chase the whole time and maybe you forced a few things that you shouldn’t,” he said.

Jacob Weitering was one of Carlton’s shining lights but his influence diminished as the game went on as he appeared hindered by yet another heavy knock.

Voss alluded to his star defender receiving some unfair treatment from opponents.

“That’s what happens when you get knocked in the back a few times when you’re probably not supposed to,” he said.

The sore bodies are mounting up with Marc Pittonet brought in to share ruck duties with Tom De Koning after he rolled his ankle against the Giants.

Michael Voss, Senior Coach of the Blues. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

It was the seventh time the Blues have played the duo this year and they have lost five of those occasions.

But Voss is not putting a line through the move.

“We’re still learning a lot about it,” he said.

“We’re still evolving as a footy team, there is nothing that’s set. We seem to be somewhat besotted by that conversation, is it one is it two.

“We’re really fortunate that we have some strengths in our team and that we’ve got two guys that can play ruck very well. Tom can impact forward as well.

“It probably didn’t impact as well as what we wanted it to tonight but we feel like it’s a strength of ours and if we need to explore it in the latter half of the year, who’s to say we won’t need it by the time we get to the back end of the year.

“It probably didn’t have its effect tonight but it’s probably not about one or two. It’s about what gives us the best chance to be a consistent team over a period of time.”

— NCA NewsWire