Not again: Pressure on Voss sky-high after Blues’ latest big-stage fadeout

April 3, 2026 — 6:38pm

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Michael Voss’ coaching career is hanging by a thread after Carlton’s season slipped further into the mire on Good Friday following a stunning fourth-quarter comeback by North Melbourne.

On a day when the “SuperClash” fixture doubles as a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Blues let slip a 22-point lead in the final term to lose by 10 points in front of a heaving crowd of about 45,000 at Marvel Stadium.

The Blues appeared to have the contest in hand when they won their first third-term of the season. But the Kangaroos booted seven goals to two in the final term to win in front of a dismayed Blues’ supporter base.

Carlton twice responded to the Kangaroos’ goals early in the final term, but they could not sustain it, the Kangaroos snatching the lead for good when young star Harry Sheezel drilled a long bomb with just over three minutes remaining.

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“We are not used to winning – to come back like that is probably the best [result] so far [this season],” Sheezel said.

“I genuinely believed we were going to win that game.”

By contrast, Blues star Sam Walsh was clearly fuming about the result.

“It’s just not good enough,” he told Seven.

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“[We’re] not standing up in the big moments when we need to, so we’ve got a lot to learn.”

The Blues’ latest fadeout came after a week of major introspection in the wake of the stunning loss to Melbourne, when they conceded a 43-point advantage. The Blues’ inability to hang on to a lead has been a massive ongoing issue over the past year, given they are yet to find a way to handle the pressure when the game is in the balance.

The loss leaves the Blues with just the one win, and Voss – off contract this season – under enormous pressure to save his job.

Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson had said it was time for his club to take a stand in a fixture his club had spent years developing. The Roos had done well in that regard, but on-field had been woeful. This was just their second win in nine matches in this fixture, but they now genuinely appear to be a team on the rise, and boast a 3-1 record this season.

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“It’s a crazy feeling. We stepped up in that second half,” veteran midfielder Luke Parker said.

The Blues’ loss was compounded by losing Jacob Weitering to concussion. He will miss at least Thursday’s Gather Round clash against with the Crows in Adelaide after he took an accidental knee to the back of the head in a marking contest by Zane Duursma.

The robust full-back failed the concussion test after leaving the field and will be a huge out against the powerful Crows forwards. Weitering’s absence in the final term also contributed to the Blues’ malaise.

Voss had said he was confident the Blues could “very quickly” rebound from their second-half woes this season. So much for that.

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They had outscored their opponents only five times in third-quarters from their past 26 games before this contest, but skipper Patrick Cripps set the tone. He had only six touches to the main break but had four early in the third as the Blues pressed.

The Hollands brothers, Elijah and Ollie, found plenty of the ball, while Harry McKay was a presence inside attacking 50. The Blues’ intensity was palpable. They had only 13 tackles to the main break, but 24 alone in the third term.

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Kangaroos’ half-back Colby McKercher was the leading possession winner to half-time, but had only three in the third term, prompting Clarkson to forearm him in the chest at the final break, urging a more combative approach.

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AFL 2026

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North Melbourne Kangaroos

Michael Voss

Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.

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