Carlton Crumbles in 50-Point Defeat to Port Adelaide as Pressure Mounts on Coach Michael Voss
Carlton suffered a crushing 50-point defeat to Port Adelaide on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval, adding further pressure on under-fire coach Michael Voss. The Blues were listless in a dismal first half, registering just one goal as Port powered to a 16.14 (110) to 8.12 (60) victory.
The loss has intensified questions about Voss’s future, with critics already speculating whether he will see out his contract, which runs until the end of next season. The lack of resistance from the Blues — who conceded the first eight goals of the match — has only fuelled those doubts.
Now sitting 11th on the ladder with a 6–9 record, Carlton faces a daunting fortnight against top-of-the-table Collingwood and defending premiers Brisbane. By the end of the round, they could be three wins adrift of the top eight.
To make matters worse, dynamic defender Adam Saad was sidelined with concussion following a bump from Port ruckman Dante Visentini. The hit sparked a half-time melee as players clashed in frustration.
Carlton’s woes were evident early. Instead of responding to last week’s shock loss to North Melbourne, the Blues were flat and ineffective. Port dominated the opening quarter, kicking 5.4 to 0.3, with Carlton stars Charlie Curnow and Orazio Fantasia both missing set shots.
The Power extended their lead with three more unanswered goals in the second term. When Mitch Georgiades kicked his fourth major, Port led 58–6. Lewis Young finally broke Carlton’s drought with their first goal, 26 minutes into the quarter.
By half-time, Port led 8.10 to 1.6 — the second-lowest scoring half in Voss’s four-year tenure with Carlton.
The one-sided trend continued in the third quarter as Port added three more goals within the first eight minutes, stretching the margin to 63 points while the Blues remained stuck on a solitary goal. Carlton managed three late goals, but Port responded with five, extending the lead to 56 points at the final break.
The Power pushed the gap to a game-high 68 points in the final term before easing off. The win propelled them to 10th place on the ladder.
Georgiades starred with five goals, Willie Rioli added three, and Darcy Byrne-Jones chipped in with two. Miles Bergman (25 disposals) was a standout, not only kicking two goals but also limiting Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps to just 17 disposals and a consolation goal in the last quarter.
Port leaders Connor Rozee and Zak Butters dominated with 30 disposals each. Youngster Hugh Jackson impressed with 17 touches, while recruit Joe Richards collected 22.
For Carlton, no player kicked more than one goal or stood out. George Hewett led their disposal tally with 22 (just six kicks), while veteran Sam Docherty followed with 19.
With finals hopes fading and fan frustration rising, Carlton now faces a defining stretch — and coach Michael Voss is firmly in the spotlight.