Carlton’s Football Boss Confirms Coach Michael Voss Will Remain
Carlton’s football boss, Chris Davies, has confirmed that coach Michael Voss will remain in his position for the upcoming match against Adelaide during Gather Round. This decision comes amid growing pressure on Voss following a series of second-half collapses by the Blues, including a 22-point fourth-quarter lead lost in their recent defeat to North Melbourne.
The team’s poor start to the season, with a record of 1-3, has raised concerns among fans. However, Davies emphasized that the club is committed to supporting Voss and resisting any calls to replace him in the near future.
“I can absolutely guarantee that we will not be making any decisions to sack Voss in the coming days,” Davies stated on 3AW radio. “We are 1-3, and while it’s disappointing, we have been in positions to win those games. We’re just not getting the job done, especially in the last couple of weeks.”
Davies, who was recruited from Port Adelaide over the off-season, highlighted the importance of support for Voss. He also defended the role of Adam Simpson, a former West Coast premiership coach, as a part-time leadership mentor at Carlton.
“Adam’s experience and history in the game have been invaluable to Michael. These are the times when you want to provide absolute support to your senior coach,” Davies said. “Michael is benefiting from the mentoring and feedback he receives from Adam.”
Pressure on Voss Continues
Voss, in his fifth season at Carlton, acknowledged that the pressure on him will continue to build. However, he has found support from retired former Blues captain Sam Docherty, who urged the club to maintain its confidence in Voss.
“It would be a really poor decision to sack Voss now,” Docherty said on 3AW radio. “They didn’t back him fully or give him an extension, but they did back him to see out this year of footy. After changing most of the assistant coaches and a new GM of footy, along with list changes, we’re only four games into the season. I think it would be a hasty call to make such a decision now.”
Docherty, who played 184 games for Carlton, shared his insights from past experiences, including the sacking of senior coaches like Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton, and David Teague. He warned that axing a coach early in the season could lead to further instability.
“The sugar hit of a caretaker coach has a life-span, but I remember by about round 14 or 15, that year was absolutely hell,” Docherty said.
Support from Players
Carlton defender Nic Newman also voiced his support for Voss, describing him as an “incredible leader” for the club.
“He fronts up like good leaders do,” Newman said on 3AW. “He was pretty calm and measured about the (North Melbourne) game and felt we played some good footy in the third quarter. There were just some moments late, and it wasn’t the same issues as last week, but it was more around some moments that we didn’t own. We’ll go to work on that.”
Injuries and Suspensions
The Blues will face challenges in the upcoming match against Adelaide due to several key players being unavailable. Vice-captain Jacob Weitering will miss the game after sustaining a concussion against North Melbourne. Additionally, Will Hayward is set to sit out after being offered a one-match ban for striking Kangaroos young gun George Wardlaw.
Hayward hit Wardlaw late with a swinging arm to the midriff as he kicked North into attack. The incident has raised concerns about the team’s performance and discipline on the field.
