Blowtorch on Blues intensifies after latest meltdown

Carlton coach Michael Voss faces another week under an intense blowtorch as he desperately searches for solutions to the horror run of second-half meltdowns that continue to haunt his AFL side.

In an extension of their torturous start to the season, the Blues coughed up another significant lead as they surrendered the last five goals in a stunning 14.12 (96) to 13.8 (86) loss to North Melbourne on Friday at Marvel Stadium.

Carlton kicked five goals to two in the third term and were up by 21 points at the 14-minute mark of the final quarter, but lacked the composure required to complete the job.

Making matters worse, vice-captain Jacob Weitering was forced off with concussion after an accidental knee to his head early in the final term and will be sidelined for at least one match.

IT'S A ONE POINT GAME ?#AFLNorthBlues pic.twitter.com/OQ7qoPiVln? AFL (@AFL) April 3, 2026

The heat will continue on Voss, who was backed last August to see out at least the final year of his contract in 2026 and has now presided over a 1-3 start to the campaign.

But the 50-year-old wasn't interested in post-match questions about his coaching future.

"I'm sure people will have that conversation and they can go for it," he said.

It was the ninth time since the start of last season that Carlton have lost after leading at halftime and came just five days after they wasted a 43-point advantage in a huge flame-out against Melbourne.

"It's a really hard one to take because six or seven minutes out from the finish you're still feeling like you're in a really good position in the game," Voss said.

The beleaguered coach did not sense his players struggling mentally against North's final-quarter surge and denied they went into their shell trying to defend a lead.

"I guess if we were starved of opportunity I'd be sitting here in some level of agreeance with you, but I didn't feel like that's the way it played out," Voss said.

"If anything, some moments of composure would've helped us to be able to take the sting out of the game or just be able to find where those moments are when the crowd's going crazy and you have to finish the game.

"There's lots of gains to be made but the scoreboard says we lost, so there's a clear level of improvement we need to make."

SHEEZEL PUTS THE ROOS IN FRONT!!!#AFLNorthBlues pic.twitter.com/LRyeu8TlcW? AFL (@AFL) April 3, 2026

North hit the front in a scrappy affair when Harry Sheezel floated through a goal at the 29-minute mark of the last quarter, but weren't home until Jy Simpkin ran into an open goal with 30 seconds left to play.

It was their second win in nine attempts in their Good Friday marquee fixture, this time in front of 45,919 fans, and marked their best start to a season under coach Alastair Clarkson (3-1).

Sheezel (24 disposals), Luke Davies-Uniacke (22), Finn O'Sullivan (21), George Wardlaw (16) and Luke Parker (20) were all influential for the Kangaroos, with Zane Duursma and Cooper Trembath kicking three goals each.

"It's so exciting for our group," Clarkson said.

"We haven't had a hell of a lot of victories over the last three or four years, or perhaps longer than that, and certainly not inspirational, come-from-behind ones like that.

"We knew Carlton's best is capable of challenging all sides in the competition and we needed to prepare for their best, and that's what we did.

"We didn't worry about anything to do with the narrative out there that was talking about why they'd fallen away in the back half of games."

George Hewett (22 disposals), Patrick Cripps (21), Elijah Hollands (18) and ruckman Marc Pittonet fought hard for Carlton, while Brodie Kemp kicked three goals.