Cornes: Why some Blues should be “embarrassed”

Carlton responded to the departure of Michael Voss with a hard-fought 12-point over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

They showed plenty of desire, want and emotion in their first game post the Voss era, getting up for interim coach Josh Fraser.

But Kane Cornes reckons some of the more experienced Blues should be embarrassed for doing what they did, questioning where this desire and leadership was when Voss was at the helm.

“What does it mean though? Holistically, it's a bit embarrassing,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“Just the way that they carried themselves. Where has this been?

“And I know it's a little thing, but I see Harry McKay get the group of forwards in late in the last quarter, instructing and showing leadership and you set up there and you set up there and telling guys what to do. I was like, where have you been? You're a senior player that's been in this club for a long time, highly paid. This is the first time I've seen any, any type of leadership from Harry. Where's that been?

“Well done for the win, whatever, like who cares. That type of thing they should be embarrassed by.”

Co-host David King chimed in, picking out some of the lesser known Blues who played well.

“Wasn’t it good to see Matt Carroll do it, and Jack Ison do it, and Billy Wilson do it,” King said.

Cornes continued: “I'm looking at the Zac Williams, the Mitch McGoverns, these types of players that have just been really nowhere in terms of sacrificing themselves for the group.

“Adam Cerra, like I never see anything from Cerra, and then all of a sudden I see them carrying on like they'd won a Grand Final, showing leadership.

“Blues fans, I don't know, what are your emotions after seeing that?”

It prompted a discussion between King and Cornes.

King: “I think the bulk of the Blues fans were rapt that they put up a fight. And credit to them, they turned up.”

Cornes: “It's late though, isn't it?”

King: “Sometimes you need a reason to go the footy, right?

“I walked down the stairs to the rooms with two ladies that go every week. They travel, they watch the team and they were just thrilled that they were able to put a smile on their face.

“So sometimes you’ve got to strip it back to the fan. It's the end of the week and the footy's on. I want to see my boys and I want to see them have a crack. And that's all they have to do.

“They don't have to win. They just have to have a crack. If they're good enough, terrific.”

King does believe that singling out McKay is an easy target.

King: “Harry McKay’s an easy whack.”

Cornes: “Harry was just a symbol of the mood of the group for me. There was an enthusiasm, there was a want for the contest, there was pressure that I just hadn't seen.

“Harry is an easy whack, but he's symbolic of the whole of the group, isn't he? I mentioned some other names there as well, but I just thought it comical to see Harry actually showing leadership for the first time in his career the week that your coach just got sacked.”

King then set his sights on key defender Jacob Weitering who has had parts of his game questioned in recent times.

King: “Do you know what pissed me off the most? I have to vent this - Jacob Weitering releasing off his man three times and coming forward and spoiling?

“I thought, ‘Oh my god. Where's that been for three years?’”

Cornes added: “Exactly. That's the point.”

King concluded: “Anyway, that's the point. I’ve got to let it go.”