It was as though Port set out to metaphorically decapitate Carlton’s leadership, a task in which Hinkley succeeded. Bergman won’t necessarily win three Brownlow votes, but his effort was the most telling of all 23 Port players.
George Martin, the famed producer of the Beatles, once described John Lennon as the mind of the fab four, Paul McCartney as the heart and George Harrison as the soul.
Miles Bergman is a trade target for Victorian clubs. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
There aren’t exact analogues in this Carlton band, but Cripps would be the heart, the sentient Weitering might be the mind and Docherty, who overcame cancer and raised club spirits, the soul.
What’s Charlie Curnow’s role in this out-of-synch band? He’s an exceptionally talented soloist and capable key forward, who’s also had physical limitations this year, and while he tried, he missed shots and emerged, for the second week, goalless.
His sometime opponent, Esava Ratugolea, is no Weitering or Harris Andrews, yet was intercepting and marking as if he was Paul Roos or Ross Glendinning.
Voss defended Curnow’s effort, but, as a senior player, it didn’t cut the mustard, either.
Curnow was matched up with Esava Ratugolea.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Cripps was subdued – be it by illness or just Bergman;Weitering uncharacteristically stumbled – out-positioned in the air and on the deck (Jack Silvagni replacing him on Georgiades), and the midfield was rendered flat-footed by the nimble feet of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Bergman.
The senior core were not composed with the ball.
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One conclusion that can be drawn from this Carlton carnage is that, far from representing trade bait, Walsh is the most indispensable player the Blues own. He alone has the running and ball-winning capacity that marks the effective modern midfield. The Blues, as they know, are one-paced and desperately need quicker legs, plus superior ball users. Adam Cerra, who has some smarts, isn’t a repeat speed runner, either.
Their fleet of small forwards is inadequate, in comparison with their next two opponents, Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions.
Finals can be dismissed, having entered the realm of “mathematically possible” – a euphemism for “no hope.” Perhaps, this is for the best. The Blues can begin planning for 2026 and 2027, in the knowledge that major surgery, not simply tinkering, will be required.
“They think the season is done and they played like it,” was how Leigh Montagna, summarised the Carlton effort on Fox Footy, whose Jason Dunstall, seldom given to over-statement, called the first half “insipid.”
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Voss’s composure in the post-match media conference, on the other hand, was impressive. He did not castigate players, and the language used was striking – it was all “we” and “us” and he was insistent that this wasn’t a true reflection of his Blues.
“We didn’t have the effort from the start,” said Voss. “It’s time to come together.“
Composed, measured, and admirable in his unwillingness to single out others – “this is a collective accountability” – Voss’s future is still in the hands of others, namely the leaders who couldn’t rise in his defence, and those, headed by Wright, calling the shots above.
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