Carlton has more internal drama brewing, with reigning best and fairest winning midfielder George Hewett reportedly frustrated after he was axed from the senior team.
The Blues omitted the 30-year-old following the club's shock Good Friday loss to North Melbourne, with no public explanation given besides a desire to change up the midfield mix.
According to Nine journalist Sam McClure, even internally Hewett has not been given a reason for the decision by coach Michael Voss.
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Hewett had been averaging 20 disposals and four clearances per game before the omission.
He has dominated at VFL level since his axing, most recently picking up 31 disposals and kicking two goals against St Kilda.
But despite his strong form, and the club's losing streak at AFL level, he has not been called back up to the senior side.
"We can report to you tonight that he was dropped after the North Melbourne game to the shock of both the player himself and quite a few of his teammates including some of the other generals in the midfield," McClure told Nine's Footy Classified.
"Since then there has been some reasoning sought by the player as to why he was dropped and sent back to the VFL and there hasn't been a desire from the coaching hierarchy to give a proper explanation.
"This is a story that is not going away. This is not the first time that Voss has had disagreements with players.
"The buck stops with the coach. He's allowed to drop whoever he wants and he thought the midfield would work better without Hewett.
"It's a story murmuring behinds the scenes as to why he was dropped and why he can't get back in the team."
Hewett won Carlton's 2025 best and fairest, with the inside mid having the best season of his career.
While his form hasn't particularly changed, the Blues have been criticised for having a midfield that is generally too slow and one-paced with Hewett, Adam Cerra and captain Patrick Cripps.
In Hewett's absence, they have turned to the likes of Jagga Smith, Cooper Lord, Ben Ainsworth and Zac Williams at centre bounces.
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes Voss is well within his rights to change up a team that isn't winning, but has to communicate the situation effectively with his playing group.
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"If that is correct, that's a disappointing one because Michael Voss is fully entitled to say our midfield mix is not right and that's it might be one of the reasons they don't see out games because they've got too many of the same mix and 'unfortunately George even though you won a best and fairest we've got to prioritise Patrick Cripps as my No.1, Adam Cerra, and then we'll complement them with Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith', he's entitled to do that," Lloyd said.
"But if you lose the communication piece with your players, whether they're in or they're out, that's often the reason coaches lose their position."
Carlton's greatest strength in the Voss era has been its ability to win contest and clearance, built around having tough inside midfielders in Cripps, Hewett and Walsh.
However, the flip side of that is teams have worked out they can expose the Blues with speed and spread from contest, given the Blues' midfield lack leg speed.
Hewett will likely be in the mix for senior recall when Carlton heads to Queensland to face reigning premiers Brisbane on Friday.
He is contracted to the club until the end of 2027.
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