Carlton “were their own worst enemy” during the 56-point drubbing dished out by Adelaide to kick off Gather Round on Thursday night, according to Fox Footy’s David King.

The Blues were well beaten as they coughed up 18 goals – the most conceded by Carlton under coach Michael Voss.

But it was the fact Carlton had more inside 50s than the Crows and couldn’t match Adelaide’s “laser kicking” efficiency that raised the most concern.

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“Carlton, they had more entries but a lot of that was long, high balls, bombing it up for Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow and saying ‘good luck, try and take a pack mark against three or four guys’ and maybe that’s the way we can kick goals, but it wasn’t going to work,” Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna said.

“There were a lot of high balls coming in tonight – Carlton were their own worst enemy at particular stages,” King added.

AFL premiership forward Jason Dunstall was equally critical of the delivery for McKay and Curnow, as the Blues took just four marks inside 50 – compared to Adelaide’s 12.

“They didn’t give them (McKay and Curnow) great opportunities,” Dunstall lamented.

“I don’t think Harry worked as hard as he could to actually get out on the lead a little more.

“They bombed it high and long far too often to a crowded forward 50 which isn’t fun for the forwards.”

The Blues were on the backfoot from the opening bounce, as they coughed up an eight goal to two opening term.

“They sort of punched us in the nose and got the headstart,” Blues skipper Patrick Cripps conceded to 7Sport.

“They got ascendancy at centre bounce and kept getting it in there.”

Statistics showed the Crows kicked those eight goals from just 20 inside 50 entries – compared to Carlton’s two goals from 12.

“We weren’t able to turn the tap off in terms of their efficiency inside 50,” coach Michael Voss said.

King said he felt Carlton were a defensive midfielder short – despite the welcome return of Blues mid Sam Walsh for Thursday night’s clash.

“They looked poor out of the middle,” he said of the 18-12 centre clearance count in Adelaide’s favour.

“They need a defensive midfielder – someone with speed.”

“They did look like they were lacking leg speed,” Montagna added.

“They are going to need to find something different about their game – too many guys are very similar and one paced (in the midfield).

“If they are not winning that contest, they were getting exposed.”

Dunstall said it was clear Carlton had “work to do” through the midfield moving forward in 2023.

“(Voss) said they had a couple of gears to go to, which means they are nowhere near where they should be,” he said.

The Blues now have a 10-day break before they face another challenge next weekend when they get St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.