Carlton’s Football Boss Supports Michael Voss Amid Criticism
Carlton’s head of football has publicly backed coach Michael Voss following the team’s latest loss, which has led to increased pressure on the Blues’ leadership. The club suffered another significant setback, losing to North Melbourne on Good Friday after failing to maintain a strong lead. This result leaves Carlton with a 1-3 record at the start of the AFL season, raising concerns among fans about the team’s performance.
Many supporters have expressed frustration, calling for Voss to be replaced. However, former Carlton captain Sam Docherty has urged fans to give the coach more time to turn things around. He argues that sacking Voss so early in the season would be a “really poor decision,” especially considering the changes made to the coaching staff and management over the off-season.
Docherty, who played 184 games for the club before retiring last year, emphasized that the club is still in the process of rebuilding. “They didn’t back him in fully and give him an extension, but they backed him in to see out this year of footy,” he said on 3AW radio. “After changing most of the assistant coaches and a new GM of footy, a bunch of list changes, we’re four games into a season and I think it would be a really hasty call to do that.”
He also warned against making quick decisions, citing the example of Mick Malthouse, who was sacked eight games into the 2015 season. “The sugar hit of a caretaker coach has a life-span but I remember by about round 14 or 15 that year, that year was absolutely hell,” Docherty added. “The direction of the club, where you’re going, what you’re doing – was really tough.”
A Call for Patience and Support
Carlton’s head of football, Chris Davies, has also voiced his support for Voss, acknowledging the challenges the team faces. He admitted that the current performance has not met the expectations of the fans, describing the start of the season as “disappointing” and “frustrating.”
Davies told 3AW: “My role is to support Michael as much as I possibly can. I totally accept that right now we’re not performing to the expectations of our supporter base. And so what I want to do is bring whatever support I can bring to Michael to ensure we’re all in this together to pull ourselves out of a disappointing start to the year.”
He also stressed the importance of focusing on controllable factors. “But really it’s focusing on the things you can control. Unfortunately I’m not in the position and I certainly wouldn’t want to be telling our supporters how they should feel. The reality is that they should be seeing some progress on the field and I accept that right now we haven’t been good enough to show enough of that this year.”
Challenges Ahead
Carlton’s situation is further complicated by the injury of vice-captain Jacob Weitering. He is set to miss the Round 5 match against Adelaide due to a head injury sustained in the previous game. Weitering has entered the AFL’s concussion protocols, adding to the team’s difficulties as they look to improve their performance.
The road ahead for Carlton will be challenging, but both Docherty and Davies are urging patience and continued support for Voss. They believe that giving the coach time to implement changes and build a stronger team is essential for long-term success. Fans are being asked to remain hopeful and trust the process as the club works to recover from its difficult start to the season.
