Stick fat: Cripps' message to Carlton fans amid on-field struggles

Amid Carlton's serious struggles in 2025, captain Patrick Cripps has reinstated the need for the club and the fans to remain united.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday off the back of the Blues' disappointing 11-point loss to North Melbourne, Cripps doubled down on his faith in the team that the side can turn their poor form around.

“I don’t want to divide us versus the fans – I feel like it’s really important we stay together,” Cripps said.

“When times are tough, it’s the most important time to stay together and stay united.

“For a lot of years now, we’ve had that ‘stronger together’ mindset, and it’s easy to do that when we’re winning … it’s bloody hard to do that when you’re having tough losses.

“We’re sticking fat together… buy in and get behind us, we’ll turn it around. It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of effort, but we’re going to stay united.”

Another dismal round for Carlton has left Michael Voss and his future at the club in the spotlight, however the club captain remains adamant that Voss is the man for the job.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of Vossy as a coach, also as a mentor and a friend,” Cripps said.

“He puts a lot of work into it along with the whole (coaching group)… that group’s very aligned.

“We’re in it together – we’re not going to point blame at anyone else, we’re going to take complete ownership, especially as players.

“(Voss) has done a great job for us for a long time now, and I feel like as players, we need to aim up a bit more.”

Despite the evident turmoil at the club, Kane Cornes says sacking the coach is not the answer.

Carlton failed to kick a goal from halfway through the first quarter until well into the third, booed off the MCG by their fans three times through the clash.

Defeat was unexpected to say the least after the Blues smashed North by 82-points just two months ago, but with some calling for the coach to be axed, Cornes is urging caution pointing instead to urgent list changes.

“Their personnel is where the discussion needs to go as well as Voss,” Cornes said on SEN Fireball.

“The instant reaction is to always go to the coach. I’m of the belief that you let him see out next year.

“Who do you get Longmire? Simpson? Who do they go for if they sack the coach?

“I would be looking to reset the playing list, see what happens with TDK and get support behind Voss.

“I don’t know if sacking the coach is the way to go.”

David King agreed with his co-host to a degree but issued a warning to incoming CEO Graham Wright.

“As soon as you decide he’s not the man to take you to the premiership then purge,” he said. Carlton currently sit 10th on the ladder and are 6-8 for the season.

While some would argue it’s not a total disaster, Cornes and King agree the list needs urgent attention with the club playing a style of football that is “too brutal to sustain for 120 minutes”.

“If you listen to Chris Scott speak, he talks about when Geelong were a good side but not great,” Cornes said. “He had a lot of good players that couldn’t run. The changes they have made is they have brought in athletes. They can all run.

“Carlton can’t run – besides Sam Walsh who even has his struggles. Buy you look at the way the game is going, Carlton can’t do any of it.

“I don’t know that it’s an effort thing I just don’t think they can do it. It’s a similar discussion at Melbourne. The game has changed quickly and it’s not just contest and clearance anymore.”

Kingy meanwhile said the club needed to stop pointing to the absence of Jagga Smith - who did his ACL in February - as the reason for their lack of form and urged others to lift.

"I’m concerned that the excuses they’re giving this season come back to Jagga Smith," King said.

"It’s unfair for them to put this pressure on a kid that needs to come in and find himself in an AFL program. But don’t think he’s going to come in and solve all your problems he’s not going to be Chris Judd the moment he walks in.

"Carlton have a group of players that they have too much faith in.

"Saad, he switches off repeatedly. Blake Acres, why don’t they trust him with a halfback flanking role? I think that’s the only reason he plays wing. He needs a reset and reprogram.

"Sam Docherty, just not doing enough.

"Cerra, he’s a head above water player. Not good enough to swing a game not bad enough to drop. Just enough but never grab a game by the throat and rip it to shreds."

Next up for the Blues is a trip to Port Adelaide this Thursday.