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‘We were targeted all week’: Voss’ pointed words after Blues’ thrilling prime-time win

Roy Ward and Michael Gleeson
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Pinned post from 11.18pm on Mar 12, 2026
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‘We were targeted all week’: Voss praises Blues

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Blues coach Michael Voss knows his side had a lot to work on, but he’s proud they came away with the four points tonight.

“We were hanging on, and probably doing it for most of the second half to be fair,” Voss admitted.

Blues coach Michael Voss.Getty Images

“What I did ask the boys to do was fight, and when teams surge, your ability to hold matters.

“We had our backs against the wall, and all we could [do] was fight. You have to begin somewhere, and that’s where we begin.”

Voss said his men needed to play their new style for longer and that would come as the season went on.

“We will go back over it later, but clearly we didn’t execute for long enough. That’s what it comes down to,” Voss said.

“When you watch us, you can see a different style of play. You can see that. Our ability to keep doing that for a longer period is a question being asked of us right now.

“When we needed to shift modes, we did, and when we needed to hold, we did, and that’s something to celebrate.”

The Blues need to win more contested ball, and that is something they will keep working on over the coming weeks and months.

“We are losing way too much contested ball and when we did, it was coming out too quick. But we will celebrate this win, and we now have effectively two weeks before our next game,” Voss said.

“We will have three days off and then walk back in feeling good about ourselves.

“Tonight was a little bit about our club. We were targeted all week both inside [the club] and out, and I’m just pleased our supporters can walk away with a smile on their face, wear their jumper with pride and have their scarf around their neck.

“We want to keep that happening and, hopefully, there are more opportunities to do that.”

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That’s all for now

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Thanks so much for joining us tonight.

We will have another live blog running tomorrow evening for the Essendon and Hawthorn grudge match, so please join us then.

Have a lovely evening and bye for now.

Pinned post from 11.18pm on Mar 12, 2026

‘We were targeted all week’: Voss praises Blues

By

Blues coach Michael Voss knows his side had a lot to work on, but he’s proud they came away with the four points tonight.

“We were hanging on, and probably doing it for most of the second half to be fair,” Voss admitted.

Blues coach Michael Voss.Getty Images

“What I did ask the boys to do was fight, and when teams surge, your ability to hold matters.

“We had our backs against the wall, and all we could [do] was fight. You have to begin somewhere, and that’s where we begin.”

Voss said his men needed to play their new style for longer and that would come as the season went on.

“We will go back over it later, but clearly we didn’t execute for long enough. That’s what it comes down to,” Voss said.

“When you watch us, you can see a different style of play. You can see that. Our ability to keep doing that for a longer period is a question being asked of us right now.

“When we needed to shift modes, we did, and when we needed to hold, we did, and that’s something to celebrate.”

The Blues need to win more contested ball, and that is something they will keep working on over the coming weeks and months.

“We are losing way too much contested ball and when we did, it was coming out too quick. But we will celebrate this win, and we now have effectively two weeks before our next game,” Voss said.

“We will have three days off and then walk back in feeling good about ourselves.

“Tonight was a little bit about our club. We were targeted all week both inside [the club] and out, and I’m just pleased our supporters can walk away with a smile on their face, wear their jumper with pride and have their scarf around their neck.

“We want to keep that happening and, hopefully, there are more opportunities to do that.”

‘His execution was off’: Yze defends Lynch

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Tigers coach Adem Yze has defended key forward Tom Lynch and praised his side for fighting back against Carlton tonight.

But Yze also said his side should have won the match and left one out there, judging from the statistics.

Tigers coach Adem Yze.AFL Photos

“When you come in at half-time down by that much and things are not working for you, all you can ask for is a response,” Yze said.

“I’m really proud of the boys’ effort to do that and give ourselves a chance to win the game. When you look at the numbers, we do feel we left one [a win] out there.”

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‘If they give it to me, I’m going to give it back’: Dean

By Roy Ward

Blues defender Harry Dean has only played two games at AFL level so far, but he’s already drawn a line in the sand.

Dean, the son of Blues great Peter Dean, clashed physically with Tigers star Tom Lynch during Thursday night’s win over the Tigers at the MCG and, post-game, he backed up his actions.

Carlton’s Harry Dean launches into a kick.Paul Rovere

“If they are going to give it to me, I’ll give it back,” Dean told Fox Footy.

“You are not going to cop it. You are obviously going to give something back and show you are not here to be pushed around.”

Full-time stats

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Analysis: The Blues got the win...and more questions

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Carlton fans came to the MCG wanting a response. The answer they got was only partly what they were chasing.

The Blues won, but were unconvincing. That they won is, in some ways, the only thing that mattered.

But they kicked one goal for the second half, taking 54 minutes and 23 seconds between goals.

Zac Williams celebrates after kicking a goal in the final quarter.Ruby Alexander
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‘Tom is usually a beautiful kick’: McKay defends Lynch

By Roy Ward

Blues forward Harry McKay has defended Richmond counterpart Tom Lynch after his horrible night kicking for goal.

McKay said post-match that players on both sides were struggling to read the swirling breeze at the MCG tonight.

Tom Lynch of the Tigers kicks for goal.Getty Images

“We were trying to work out what the best method was. We would kick at the left goal post, and then the wind would go the other way,” McKay told Fox Footy.

“Tom is usually a beautiful kick, so you know if he’s having trouble, then the wind must be doing a bit.

“It was tough to read, but that’s footy at times.”

‘It happened quickly’: Williams on his winner

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Blues star Zac Williams says he will be fine after playing through a painful ankle knock to kick the winning goal tonight.

“I think it was Maurice [Rioli jnr] who got me over on the boundary line – I keep forgetting how quick he is,” Williams told Fox Footy with a laugh.

Zac Williams celebrates after kicking a goal in the final quarter.Ruby Alexander

“I had a little impingement. I went down and got it strapped up and finished out the game.

“I think it will be sore when I go down in the change rooms, but it will be alright.”

FT: Carlton 10.15 (75) d Richmond 9.17 (71)

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The Blues have won despite kicking just one goal in the last term, with Zac Williams’ late goal proving all the difference.

Blues star Jagga Smith starred in his second game and was beaming, despite the close result.

“It feels amazing, [but] it was probably a bit too tight for comfort,” Smith told Fox Footy.

“But I was proud of the way the boys held that momentum and to get the first win – we can go forward from there.”

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Carlton win

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The Blues have held on to win despite kicking just one goal in the second half. What a fascinating game of footy.

More to come.

The Blues celebrate a goal.Getty Images
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