We're only a month into the 2026 AFL season and it's already looking like being another grim one for Carton and its long-suffering fans.
It's well-documented, but in case you're unaware, there's been a distinct lack of success at Princes Park since the Blues' 61-point thrashing of the Cats in the 1995 Grand Final.
In the subsequent 29 years (not including 2026), Carlton has made the finals on 10 occasions and has not added to its premiership tally. Its win-loss finals record during this period is eight wins, 21 losses.
The Blues have made just one Grand Final since '95, that being 1999 when they lost to North Melbourne by 35 points. Carlton has played in two Preliminary Finals, four Semi Finals and two Elimination Finals.
Including the four matches the Blues have played in 2026, their win-loss record since lifting the trophy in the middle of the MCG on September 30, 1995, is 278 wins, five draws and 400 losses.
Blues fans have quite rightly had enough.
So, as we brace for another belting by Adelaide, who have had the wood on Carlton, winning 11 of the past 16 meetings by an average margin of 43 points, I've come up with seven things the Blues should do, both short and long-term, to turn the tide.
1Repair selection integrity
Specifically to Voss' tenure, from the outside looking in, it appears the coach has put too much faith in certain senior players.
Voss has demonstrated he is loath to drop experienced players, despite them being out of form and/or making the same errors week in, week out. All of Mitch McGovern, Lachie Fogarty, Lewis Young, Adam Saad, Zac Williams and Blake Acres, have played more senior footy at Carlton than they should have, and while some have been sent back to the VFL in recent times, it should have happened much sooner.
Eyebrows were raised when George Hewett was dropped, seemingly out of nowhere, in 2024 for ‘that' clash with GWS in Sydney, and the veteran midfielder has again been axed for the Blues' Round 4 match in Adelaide. Hewett hasn't been anywhere near his form from last year, but he hasn't been horrible. You can argue Carlton is too one-paced and slow in the midfield, especially with Patrick Cripps, Walsh and Adam Cerra also in there, but if you're going to axe Hewett, why bring in a tall in Hudson O'Keeffe? That decision is baffling for a couple of reasons: O'Keeffe has shown very little this year, and the forecast in Adelaide is for a high chance of showers and a possible storm. Flynn Young has been going well at VFL level, and was excellent last week. He should have been rewarded, but, unsurprisingly, he hasn't.
The speedy Billy Wilson is another who has played some decent footy and the lower level, and over a period of time. He may not be good enough for the top flight, but who would know? The 20-year-old has only played four senior games and never more than three in a row. He offers a point of difference; he is quick and can break a line.
There are also question marks around Ben and Lucas Camporeale. The latter has had a taste of senior footy, playing three games in 2025, while his brother is yet to debut? Why won't Voss and his assistants take a punt and have a look at them. They have both played senior footy in South Australia.
Yes, these young players have their weaknesses, but Oliver Hollands turns the ball over regularly and seems to be a protected species, and Lachie Fogarty, while deemed an important role player, often missed easy, important goals and offered little, in my opinion, before he was finally dumped.
I'm not for one minute suggesting Young, Wilson and the Camporeales are the difference, but let's give them a shot and see what they're made of. Instead, as is tradition at Carlton in modern times, the Blues go conservative.
