Carlton coach Michael Voss has praised his players for “winning in different ways” after extending their run of victories to eight consecutive matches.
Key points:
- The Blues defeated the Demons 9.6 (60) to 8.8 (56)
- They sit fifth on the ladder with two matches left in their home-and-away season
- Voss says his players deserve credit for showing “resilience and grit”
The Blues prevailed in a tight struggle against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night, winning 9.6 (60) to 8.8 (56).
After their season appeared over in mid-June following six straight defeats, the Blues have risen to fifth on the ladder on the back of their winning streak.
But a finals berth — which would be the Blues’ first in 10 years — is not assured, as they are only eight points clear of 11th-placed Geelong with two rounds remaining in the home-and-away season beyond this weekend.
“We’re winning in different ways and we’ve shown great adaptability across the year,” Voss said after Saturday night’s match.
“We’ve had lots of questions asked of us but we’re showing that resilience and grit, and we’re able to put that into the way we’re playing.
“You can see the boys have got some real hunger in and desire right now and they’re really clear on what’s needed.
“That was a fantastic performance and it felt almost like a finals-like game.”
The Blues’ triumph was not without nervous moments, as a crucial touch-ball decision fell their way inside the final minute of the match.
They led by five points with 41 seconds left when Caleb Marchbank was ruled to have got a hand to Demons star Christian Petracca’s long-range shot on the goal line.
But the goal umpire could not be certain and the decision was sent upstairs.
“I was sitting there just going, ‘Please don’t overrule this, you can’t lose this way’,” Voss said.
“Thankfully, the call went our way and we were obviously able to hold on.”
Officials ruled there was insufficient evidence to overturn the goal umpire’s decision.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin did not want to buy into the debate over whether Petracca should have been awarded a goal that would likely have led to his side clinching victory.
“The guy closest to where it all took place thought he touched it,” Goodwin said.
“Umpire’s call … that’s the rules.”
The result meant the Demons slipped from second to third on the ladder, having been leapfrogged by the Brisbane Lions as the top four sides chase home-ground advantage for their qualifying finals.
AAP/ABC
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
