CARLTON'S inability to hold a lead has the Blues in all sorts of strife and their coach under the pump.

Adelaide's chronic slow starts have its premiership credentials under question.

Both teams sit 1-3 thanks to their respective failures to deliver for four quarters.

Crows veteran Taylor Walker could at least see the funny side, joking to Carlton counterpart Harry McKay: "wanna swap, mate?" as the pair fronted up on Wednesday ahead of the AFL's Gather Round.

Carlton let leads slip against Sydney, Melbourne and North Melbourne, and just held on against Richmond - while Adelaide fell short against Fremantle, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs after slow starts.

"Obviously win-loss wise, not the greatest start, but we're actually playing some really good footy for long patches of games, but just not been able to finish off. And in a win-loss industry, obviously, that's paramount," spearhead McKay said in Adelaide.

04:32

Last two mins: Another capitulation sees Blues fade late against Roos

Watch the thrilling final moments between North Melbourne and Carlton in round four

Published on Apr 3, 2026

"But we're actually playing some good footy and just being able to do that for 120 minutes is the challenge.

"... But we're really confident that if we can fix that last little 10-20 per cent, that win-loss ledger will change."

McKay pointed to a strong third quarter against North as he stressed Carlton had been working to fix their second halves.

"(It's) something that's not going to necessarily change overnight, but I thought we took some pretty good steps forward, and then, like any game, it's just capitalising on our moments late," he said.

Taylor Walker and Harry McKay during the AFL Gather Round Media Opportunity at the Women and Children’s Hospital on April 8, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

Walker said Adelaide was attempting to pick out reasons for its slow starts and fix them.

Thursday's Adelaide Oval clash will be the first time Carlton has faced the Crows in Gather Round since it copped a 56-point walloping in the inaugural event in 2023.

While publicly the Blues have backed Voss, that type of defeat could spell curtains for their coach.

McKay praised how Voss had "brought together" a new coaching group, executive and refreshed list.

21:51

GETTABLE: Rivals fight for free agent, ANOTHER father-son Blue, Lion in Tassie’s sights

Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge discuss the latest trade and draft news at Gather Round

Published on Apr 7, 2026

"Vossy's been fantastic. Can't speak more highly of how he's gone about it. Much-loved," McKay said.

"... Obviously, on-field, a lot of it's player-based stuff, but we tend to go to the coach, which, I guess that's the industry.

Blues recruit Will Hayward will miss the game through suspension while Adelaide should regain Isaac Cumming and Rory Laird.