“Not going there”: Voss turns down injury excuse as questions raised on Weitering

Carlton coach Michael Voss refused an opportunity to use injuries as an excuse in the wake of a heavy 52-point loss to Sydney as the number of his unavailable players continues to rise.

Vice-captain Jacob Weitering could be the latest casualty, with the star defender subbed out at half-time after trying and failing to push through a quad corky.

Up to nine Blues who would be in Voss’ best 22 were sitting on the sidelines on Friday night, helplessly watching the Swans pile on 14 goals after half-time.

When asked if injuries could be used as an excuse post-game, a disappointed Voss fired back.

“No, not going there, mate, not going there,” Voss replied.

“We had a team out there that could get the job done. We've had some continuity with some important pieces with the guys out there. It presents some challenges but it's not insurmountable.

“We could have got that job done and we didn't, so I don't want to go anywhere else.”

Voss also offered an update on Weitering.

“He's got a corky. With all these, it's just really about how bad it is, so it's a bit of a wait and see,” he explained.

“In terms of how significant it is, it's a corky, but you're never too sure what the actual damage is until maybe 48 hours later.”

Weitering suffered a knock to the leg in the opening minutes of the game and was proppy on his feet from there. Despite looking set to remain the general down back, the Blues opted to pull the trigger at half-time and sub the 26-year-old off for Jack Carroll.

But David King questioned whether Weitering could have remained on the ground as his back six leaked like a sieve.

“I look at Weitering and when he went off… he’s been off a few times lately with corkies and those sorts of things. Just thinking in the back of my mind, does he have to be 100 per cent to play?” King said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“How injured was he was (the question) in the back of my mind. I’m not questioning the player… I’m trying to make him into Jeremy McGovern, that’s the player I think Weitering can be, and he pushes through all sorts of pain and trauma and throwing himself into packs.

“I think it’s all part of the growth of Jacob.”

The Round 10 loss is Carlton’s third defeat in its past four games with challenges against the Suns, Power and Bombers to come in the next three weeks.