New Carlton coach Michael Voss is keeping expectations in check as the Blues begin a new era against the Richmond Tigers at the MCG on Thursday night.
Carlton are priced at 7/5 to win the round one fixture and begin the 2022 AFL campaign with a bang following an encouraging pre-season.
Talented list
Carlton have a list packed with talent and now with Voss at the helm, expectations are high for the season ahead.
The Carlton support base is demanding to say the least and a place in finals will be the minimum they are expecting in 2022.
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However Voss knows the project is very much a work in progress and will happily take the small wins for now.
"I want to see some transfer in the way that we've tried to play," Voss told reporters ahead of the game. "We've seen some of that throughout our pre-season and I spoke at the time about being able to take those small wins as we've gone.
"That gives you enormous encouragement when you transfer that over when we need it to and can play in a real consistent manner. But as far as expectations go, I just want to make sure that we stay together as a group right throughout the whole game and that we play for each other.
"I know if we can bring that spirit we put ourselves in contention in the game. If we do that and we get a look at the end, then we'll be happy."
Horror run
Carlton have a shocking record against the Tigers and haven't beaten them since 2013. They have suffered 11 defeats on the bounce but Voss says that is history and now they are looking forward.
"We understand that there's a past there, there's been a history, but (our approach) has been so much about what we want to be able to do now and what we stand for moving forward," Voss added.
