The recession they had to have: Negative growth hurting Carlton

March 29, 2026 — 7:40pm

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Carlton’s opponents have outscored the Blues by 153 points in three second halves.

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Carlton were so famous in the 1980s for their matchwinning third quarters, the term “premiership quarter” was invented to describe the blitzkrieg.

Unfortunately, this season, the Blues are delivering the “collapse quarter” every week after half-time.

In their three third quarters this season they have conceded 131 points and scored 43.

In economic terms, three consecutive quarters of such negative growth represent a severe economic downturn. Carlton are now in the recession they have to have.

They have outscored the opposition by 71 points in the three first halves and been outscored by 153 points in the second half.

Against Melbourne, they were outscored 88 points to 31 in the second half after building a 43-point lead early.

Sadly, Carlton are attempting to be the front-running Pride of Jenni and ending up the forever-losing Drongo.

Melbourne are better at playing fast football because they have a speedy star in Kysaiah Pickett and premiership converters in Bayley Fritsch and Brody Mihocek.

Carlton don’t contain the same hardened performers.

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They also have too many substandard performers who drop marks and miss targets when the pressure builds. Unfortunately for their coach, Michael Voss, the pattern is familiar and every opponent and supporter knows Carlton’s vulnerability.

The truth is Carlton lost their handle on the game midway through the second quarter at the MCG without the Demons hurting them on the scoreboard. The finish was inevitable.

Now the trend is a major........

© The Sydney Morning Herald