'Opposition are driving buses through them': Damning Blues stat exposes flaw

Jimmy Bartel believes Carlton coach Michael Voss needs to put more work into the club's defensive lapses after a horror start to the season.

The Blues have given up 14 five-goal runs since the start of 2024 and have been smashed in second halves so far in 2025, sitting at -89 for second-half point differential.

Voss said after the loss to the Bulldogs on Thursday night that they were simply losing their focus for small patches of games, and it was costing them.

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"Our best has been pretty good, but we just seem to be straying from 'us' more than we like and it's giving little pockets and windows for opposition to walk through a little bit and inviting them into the game," Voss said.

Bartel however believes those 'little' windows, are letting in a little more than a light breeze.

"Yeah, the only problem with those windows is opposition are driving buses through them at the moment," the Geelong great told Nine's Footy Furnace.

"14 times since the start of 2024 sides have had five-goal run-ons (against Carlton) and in second halves (this season) they're -89 points.

"So the problem for them is their ability to recognise those moments and how to set up and what they have learned from when the opposition kicks two or three goals.

"We were always taught by our coaches that one goal is okay, two goals we might need to tighten up, but definitely not the third. You can actually set up the way you play the game and yes it's harder with the 6-6-6 rule, but least with the centre bounce we're back shoulder and we're hitting to one area and we're dropping it at our feet and the very worst loss we're taking their is a high bomb and that gives the backs a chance.

"So they need to go to school on stopping run-ons from the opposition. 14 times is too many in just over a season."

Former Essendon coach James Hird agrees, saying the Blues need a more defensive plan for when momentum swings against them..

"You have to have a plan when three goals are kicked. Whether it's at the centre square, having the winger roll around so you can protect space or you can get another stoppage and condense the stoppage," he said.

"You make sure your ruckman is hitting it to where their ruckman is so you can push up on them, and that doesn't seem to be happening."

Since 2007, only one team has started 0-3 and made the top four, which paints a grim picture for the Blues' hopes.

However, Bartel believes Carlton should still have belief they can turn things around, simply looking to last year's premiers Brisbane, who were also winless after round three.

"The ambition should be to still play finals. Maybe top four is very difficult, but everyone will be looking to Brisbane when they were slow out of the blocks and look how that finished for them, and the Hawks (also started 0-5)," Bartel said.

"You've got to capture momentum somewhere. That's what they would be leaning into. There's no point going 'season over', you've got to sell hope if you're Michael Voss."

Carlton faces the daunting task of another huge contest, when they take on rivals Collingwood on Thursday night.