Time is fast running out for Carlton coach Michael Voss to salvage his struggling side's AFL season after a seventh loss in eight games.

The Blues were belted in clearances and contested possession on Friday night as they posted their lowest score of the year in an 8.13 (61) to 6.8 (44) defeat to Melbourne.

It leaves them facing an uphill battle to end a decade-long finals ahead of games against Essendon and Gold Coast prior to the mid-season bye.

"It's fast closing," Voss said.

"We're not good enough at the moment. That's the brutal facts.

"We have to accept that we're not. We've played against really good opposition and that's the feedback we've got."

Voss praised his side's "fight" but highlighted ongoing areas of concern after the Blues managed just 39 forward entries against Melbourne.

"We're well and truly into that process of getting after what we need to be able to do but just all of it hasn't transferred yet," Voss said.

"Every week I've walked in here and thought this is the week that it's going to transfer and it hasn't quite gone to plan.

"But every week we've been in the fight and every week we've been pretty close on the scoreboard at least but we're three or four goals shy."

Voss was pleased for key forward Harry McKay, who took a small step towards overcoming his goal-kicking yips with 3.2 but was wayward late in the match.

"Everyone has been having a view on his goal-kicking technique and what he should or shouldn't do but he's been able to process that, put it in its place and go to work on it," Voss said.

"For him to be able to come out today and have to work through all those things, I'm sure he'll find out at the back end of it that he'll be a better player because of it.

"He's had to work through some challenges and today certainly felt like he made a number of breakthroughs in that area."

Tall utility Jack Silvagni will be assessed over the weekend after he was substituted at halftime with a hip injury.