"F---ing s--tshow": Carlton hero’s brutal Blues spray

Carlton's start to the season was far from ideal, and according to club legend Sam Docherty, it was a repeat of the same story that has plagued the club for years.

In an almighty spray via former Blue and Sun Daniel Gorringe's podcast Dan Does Footy, Docherty went into detail as to why the team continually falls off a cliff during games.

As someone who played for the club as recently as last year, holding co-captaincy and the admiration of so many fans across the AFL world, Docherty's opinion on the matter holds up better than most.

And it's safe to say he was rather honest in his assessment.

"Basically what happens, and exactly what happened last night , is the same s--t that happens every other game," Docherty told Dan Does Footy.

"When the game is hot and contested and pressurised, Carlton is good in that environment. But as soon as some team can do somewhat good in the contest, the rest of the game just f---ing falls to pieces.

"Carlton were +21 at contested possessions, so they were winning all the contest around the game, which then got the ball played in their half, on their terms.

"Admittedly, their ball movement was pretty good in the first half. They were able to control the tempo.

"But then they start losing contest, they get under pressure, they can't get a hold of the ball and then they're a f---ing s--tshow.

"Because the game gets somewhat slower and there's more open brand footy, that's when Carlton is f---ing horrible.

"That's essentially what happened again last night. Sydney +10 in the last quarter in contested possession.

"A game against Carlton, defence doesn't hold up... so basically, you smack our mids again this year and we'll be f---ed, going off last night. Change all the ball movement you want in the world, but it's the same issue."

Carlton fell by 63 points against the Swans in a contest that the Blues led by 22 points early in the third term.

They face Richmond next Thursday night in what will be a telling contest in the infancy of the 2026 season.