Crows End Losing Streak, Inflicting Further Heartbreak on Carlton in Gather Round Curtain-Raiser

Carlton’s dismal season has persisted following a 17.12 (114) to 12.14 (86) defeat at the hands of the Adelaide Crows in the opening match of Gather Round.

This latest setback marks three consecutive losses for the struggling Blues and increases the scrutiny on coach Michael Voss.

Prior to the game, Carlton’s general manager Chris Davies spoke with ABC and failed to offer a strong vote of confidence for Voss.

“He’s a coach without a contract for next year,” he remarked.

“The reality is we need better performances immediately, and that’s where Michael’s focus lies.”

Once again, the Blues started well, leading 7.4 (46) to 6.3 (39) at the first break. However, the Crows surged ahead, establishing a 24-point lead while Carlton could only manage one goal and two behinds in the second term.

This quarter also featured an embarrassing episode for Patrick Cripps, who attempted to show some attention to James Peatling behind the mark.

Cripps delivered a sneaky blow with his right hand, only to be the one left in pain, grasping his hand in discomfort.

“He’s experiencing some discomfort,” David King commented on Fox Footy.

Cripps managed to persist through the match, but his presence failed to alter the outcome as Adelaide cruised to victory.

Carlton did manage a narrow win in the final quarter but King believes there was little wrong with the Blues’ effort given that Adelaide was heavily favoured going into the match.

“For Carlton fans, I don’t think they ought to be disappointed with the team’s effort and attitude; they simply were missing some key players,” he stated.

The Crows, who entered the match with three straight losses, have now moved up to 10th place, while Carlton remains stuck in 16th.

Adelaide’s Josh Rachele was the standout performer, kicking four goals and amassing 26 disposals. Both Cripps and Adelaide’s Sam Berry led the disposals tally, collecting 29 apiece.