Michael Voss will remain Carlton coach for 2026 after being endorsed by the board
Contracted until the end of next season, Voss' tenure was put on the table at a club board meeting on Wednesday night amid mounting speculation the Blues could follow Melbourne's lead and look for a new coach.
Carlton has won just seven of 20 games this season, failing to meet most expectations, after making finals in 2023 and 2024.
But on Thursday afternoon a club statement confirmed Voss was safe for next season.
'The Carlton Football Club can today confirm with absolute clarity that its AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss will remain coach of the Blues into the 2026 AFL Season,' the statement said.
'As communicated by the Club in June, incoming CEO Graham Wright has been maximising the final eight weeks of the home and away season to work closely with the football department.
'This has involved clear consultation with players, coaches and staff, producing valuable insights into where the AFL program currently sits, and the necessary steps that need to be taken to take the team forward.'
Carlton President Rob Priestley said the club wanted to make ' calm, rational and fully informed decisions' and despite months of poor results backed in Voss.
'The first of these has been in relation to our Senior Coach, which we are now in a position to provide clarity on following last night's scheduled Board meeting,' he said.
'Last night, Graham presented a recommendation to the Board of Directors that Michael remains as our Senior Coach into next season.
'This recommendation was unanimously endorsed by the Board.
'For the last few months Graham and Michael have been meeting regularly, during which time they have been engaged in open and honest dialogue with one another on what is required for us to evolve as a football side.
'Michael's ability to lead our football club this year in the face of incredible pressure has displayed the attributes of a strong and selfless leader.
'Carlton always comes first for our coach, and Graham and Michael share a clear and aligned view on the opportunities to improve football performance.
'We want to make it absolutely clear that Michael Voss is the coach of the Carlton Football Club and he will remain the coach of the Carlton Football Club.'
Voss has been in charge of the Blues since 2022, taking them to the preliminary final in 2023, and the finals again in 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Volkano to erupt at Ballarat
Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner's selections for Monday's meeting on the Ballarat Synthetic. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â â â â â BALLARAT SYNTHETIC BEST BET VOLKANO (Race 8 No. 9) Won with leg in the air on debut track and distance then not disgraced rising sharply in grade. Back on home deck and hardest to beat. â â â â â NEXT BEST QUITE THE LASS (Race 2 No. 6) Hard fit and racing consistently. Placed third the past two starts and should be right in the finish. â â â â â VALUE BET THE BONT (Race 7 No. 5) Veteran caught the eye last start at big price. Back in grade and fitter again. Watch for him late again. â â â â â LAY OF THE DAY MOAKSUN (Race 4 No. 1) Deserves a win and would love him to do so, but too short for 13-start maiden, albeit placed nine times. â â â â â THE JOCKEY - JOHN ALLEN INSTINCTIVE SPIRIT (Race 3 No. 8 $6), MOAKSUN (Race 4 No. 1 $2.30), SIERRA DEE JAY (Race 5 No. 5 $6.50), KAWA (Race 6 No. 3 $12), COSMIC RHAPSODY (Race 7 No. 1 $4.80) and SPIRITED DEFENCE (Race 8 No. 2 $2.50) Originally published as On The Punt: Volkano to erupt at Ballarat
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Dubbo preview, tips and inside mail for Sunday, August 10, 2025
There aren't many horses that have graced the Dubbo Turf Club with better resumes than what Wayne Wilkes ' new stable addition Kote brings. It wasn't long ago when Kote was considered one of the more promising youngsters in Sydney racing, winning the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes during his second preparation. Second behind Kote that day was Thron Bone (now Invincible Sage). That galloper would go on to win the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint in Hong Kong before matching motors with superstar sprinter Ka Ring Rising. And while Kote's career hasn't gone in that direction, the six-year-old has proven to be a handy money-spinner throughout 32 starts and Wilkes is confident he can win a few races at his new surroundings. 'He's a horse that will keep improving this preparation,' Wilkes said. 'Obviously he's got a lot of ability and it's nice to have horses like that come into the stable and I'm still learning about him. 'I thought he did well a few weeks back at Grafton and his first-up record would suggest that he always needs the run. 'He was up thereabouts on the speed in a race where they went mad up front and as a result, he just felt the pinch late. 'His work has been good since and he handled the float trip up to Grafton well so getting out to Dubbo won't bother him. 'He's a horse that has been everywhere throughout his career and he's pretty laid back so the long trip doesn't bother him at all.' Kote takes out the Grainshaker Brian Crowley Stakes in style 🙌 @jasoncollette @ACummingsracing — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 22, 2022 Jockey Ben Looker was aboard Kote at Grafton but Wilkes' daughter, Shae, will take the ride for today's 1100m open handicap. 'It's Shae's first race ride on him but she knows him pretty well having ridden him a bit since he came down from Queensland,' Wilkes said. 'He's got barrier two so I'd expect him to be up there on the speed and with a bit of fitness benefit from his run the other day, I'm hoping he's got a bit more left in the tank late in the piece.' Dubbo's surface was rated in the soft range on Saturday afternoon and with Kote's record on good tracks reading zero wins from 15 starts, Wilkes is hoping it stays that way. On rain affected going, Kote has won four times including his most recent win in last year's Thunder Thousand in Newcastle. 'He certainly enjoys a track with a bit of cut in the ground so hopefully it stays in that soft range,' Wilkes said. 'Having said that, he did go close a few back at the Gold Coast on a firm surface in a good race so he's not completely out of it if the track is quick.' Kote has been handed the 62kg topweight for the $27,000 contest where he'll face 10 rivals, including the likes of Mabel, Plentitude and Rothgate. Mabel and Plentitude both come into the race with Sydney metropolitan form so Wilkes is hoping Kote can step up to the task. 'He will have to find a bit with the weight on his back because the race he's in has turned out to be pretty strong,' Wilkes said. 'Some of those horses come into the race in good form so it's no easy task.' Wilkes is coming off a season highlighted by Sumo Fish winning the MNCRA Country Championships Qualifier at Port Macquarie and he's starting to look toward that race for next year to figure out which horses to target. 'Obviously (Sumo Fish) isn't eligible for the race anymore so we're just starting to figure out which horses we set for the race,' Wilkes said. â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO TIPS BEST BET Race 1 No.5: XERXES Showed good improvement second-up at Tamworth when narrowly denied. Can break through here. NEXT BEST Narrowly beaten in a Highway last time out with 59kg on his back and he now drops all the way down to 55kg. VALUE BET Race 7 No.5: PRESSNELL Put a line through his last start run. Gets Bullock on now and a better gate. JOCKEY TO FOLLOW AARON BULLOCK has a super book of rides and I think he'll ride at least two winners. Probably more. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 4, 9, 7 Race 6: 1, 3, 11 Race 7: 5, 6, 9 Race 8: 2, 6, 9, 11 â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO INSIDE MAIL XERXES (5) looks to be the one third-up into the campaign off a narrow last start defeat. Showed plenty of fight to just go down in a dogfight but he'll have extra fitness here and he's drawn well in a race where his rivals aren't. BLUE KINGDOM (1) was rolled at $1.30 on debut at Taree. Will improve at his second start and think the race he comes out of is strong. Aaron Bullock on. Not much went right for SMART BUY (10) first-up at Scone. She was trapped deep right at the rear and made it hard to get into the race following that. The problem is she's drawn way off the track here in barrier 17 but Group 1-winning rider Reece Jones is aboard. BET: XERXES to win. CROWN LEGEND (6) beat all but Zelestial last time out at Scone over a mile. Sticks at the distance and was six weeks between runs on that occasion so you'd think he gets here in improved order. Big gear change with Bullock on first time. STOCKHOLM (1) hasn't enjoyed the wet conditions at his last few runs and also did it tough a Wellington most recently. Drawn well here and has a good record at the trip. GRANDINI (3) comes out of Highway company, although she didn't beat one home. Turned in a strong performance at the start prior and doing something similar would make her a winning hope here. BET: CROWN LEGEND to win. RACE 3: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1100m) SUPREME STYLE (9) has started her career on a good note with two seconds from two starts. Resumes here after last running in April and strikes a race where there's quite a bit of speed. She can capitalise and break the maiden status. WARBRECCEAN (5) is close to a win with two straight placings since moving to the Terry Wicks stable. Awful barrier though and that's hurt his chances. STAR OF INDIGO (12) has looked good at the trials ahead of her debut. Perfect barrier for her in gate five and Anna Roper knows her well. BET: SUPREME STYLE to win. RACE 4: HANDICAP (1400m) Hard to go past KRANICH (9) after he was only narrowly beaten in Highway company last start. Treated well here with only 55kg on his back and certain he'll be right in the finish again. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (2) found it hard to get into the race last start in the Forbes Cup. Will appreciate the drop in grade and Aaron Bullock in the saddle is a big tick. AMICUS CURIAE (1) has run just about everywhere and his last two were up at Mackay. BET: KRANICH to win. RACE 5: CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400m) ROYAL ARMADA (7) is formerly trained by Joe Pride and won first-up for the new stable. Should get his chance to do so again after drawing perfectly on the inside with Winona Costin in the saddle. HIGHLAND EIGHTGEE (4) is riding a two race win streak into this and both victories have been by big margins. Who is to say he can't do it again? It's certainly a suitable race for him. HAZE (2) will take good improvement from his first-up run but he will just need a touch of luck from a wide barrier. Bonnie And Bruce is another riding a win streak. He's won on back-to-back occasions and also hasn't missed a place at his last five runs. Barrier is a big negative though. BET: ROYAL ARMADA to win. RACE 6: HANDICAP (1100m) MABEL (3) has the runs on the board and while she hasn't won in a while, this is a good drop in grade for a mare of her quality and I'd expect her to break through for a victory. PLENITUDE (11) has been racing well in Highway company and will enjoy the drop in grade. Barrier three with Jake Pracey-Holmes on looks suitable with the only negative being a slight drop in trip. KOTE (1) comes out of a strong race at Grafton at his first run for the Wayne Wilkes stable. It's been a while since he won a race but getting to country level should see him break through and win one shortly. RUNNING BEAR (4) is very interesting. She hasn't raced in 90 weeks with her last start being a fourth to Lekvarte at Newcastle on Hunter day. BET: MABEL to win. Not much went the way of PRESSNELL (5) last start at Bathurst when trapped three wide without cover for the trip. As a result he had nothing left to offer in the straight. Gets a jockey upgrade with Aaron Bullock back on and he's got a good record on him. UPWARDLY MOBILE (6) has a strong first-up record and gets here off one trial. Should get her chance from a good barrier. QUICK ONYX (9) did it tough first-up. If he gets luck here and if he's come through the run well, he can bounce back. NOVA CENTAURI (11) didn't handle the heavy going last time out at Muswellbrook and was soft in betting. Can bounce back here on a drying track and from a good barrier. DENMAN DEPUTY (9) is another that failed in very wet conditions last time out at Wellington. WONDER STEP (4) has won two from three this time in and did it in good style last time out. Gets a good drop in weight off that run but just might have to burn the candle early to lead from a double digit barrier.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Goulburn previews: Portelli's horror streak of wide barriers continues
TWO-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Gary Portelli 's horror streak of wide barriers this season has followed him to Goulburn on Monday where three of his four runners were dealt the outside alley in their respective races. Portelli has saddled-up five starters in the 2025/26 season so far, the first two of those drew 7 of 7 and 6 of 6 in their assignments. Portelli's Goulburn -bound quartet with each of their barriers are Zoodoo (9 of 9), Sculptor (10 of 10), Angels Cry (14 of 14) and Greygenta who was issued 12 of 16. Zoodoo finished last in his only visit to Goulburn, on debut in January but has a more recent provincial placing to enhance his resume, followed by an excusable, distant fourth on the Canberra Acton track. 'The jockey said he didn't really appreciate that surface so he is a better chance hopefully on what will probably be a wet track, I'd imagine,'' Portelli said. 'On his run at Newcastle, he'd be competitive for sure.' Of all Portelli's Goulburn entrants, there is no contest in which is the track specialist among them. That honour goes clearly the way of Sculptor who shares his name with the 1983 Danehill Stakes and Brian Crowley Stakes winner. Portelli's 2021 model's record at Goulburn is three starts for a win and a second. 'We tried him over 1300m the other day but he just raced too fiercely and flattened out and couldn't find the line so we are back to the sprint and back to a wet track hopefully,'' Portelli said. Angels Cry ($8) meanwhile looks headed on the right trajectory for what would be her second career win at start five when she tackles the Nutrien Harcourts Benchmark Handicap (1600m) wearing the white, green crossed sashes, red sleeves and cap carried by past Portelli-trained Group 1 stars, Fireburn and Rebel Dane. 'She got beat by a pretty smart horse of Garry Lunn's at Bathurst and after she went through the line, I thought she was battling on just as strong past the line,'' Portelli said. 'I thought maybe the slower tempo of the mile might suit her.' Portelli's final runner on Monday's card is the $30,000 Inglis Australian Weanling purchase Greygenta whose sole win thus far was a barnstorming last to first effort at Queanbeyan a week out from last Christmas. She opened her winter campaign with career worst run at Goulburn (on a heavy (9)) before bouncing back to her best 18-days later when third at Kembla. â– â– â– â– â– DANNY Williams quest for another Goulburn Trainers' Premiership starts on Monday when two of the stable string go around in eminently winnable races. Williams whose career highlights include the 2022 Group 1 Galaxy with Shelby Sixtysix just three starts after winning a Highway Handicap, has lost count of exactly how many local titles he has won but reckons it ''must be six or seven''. Williams can take his career total of Goulburn winners to 148 should the lightly-raced Manwari and his nine-year-old stablemates both be successful on Monday. Manwari will be ridden in the Maykazz Maiden (1200m) by Nick Heywood whose win tally for Williams of 46 ranks him second to Matthew Cahill (60) but above former jockey and now dual Darwin Cup winner trainer – Peter Robl – on 43. Heywood's record on Manwari is four rides for three placings including the gelding's July 15 third at Warren when clocking in third as the $1.75 favourite. 'He seems to be a horse that has shown us enough that we feel that he is city-class but he has been very disappointing on what he has shown us on the racetrack,'' Williams said. 'We took six horses to Warren looking for a drier track and it never stopped raining the whole day. 'Albeit he got through the ground, we had him at 1200m and we took some blood leading into it and the blood said he could have done with more work. 'And he struck a wet track, it says a soft (6) but it was a lot wetter than that because they downgraded it after race one. 'He just ran out of puff. 'We have held him back for this meeting for a couple of reasons. 'We've got a lot of owners coming on Monday for (me) winning the Premiership and having a day-out and secondly, it just looked a nice suitable race for him.' Avid breeding buffs will be interested to dissect Manwari's fascinating pedigree which was designed by well known industry figure, James Bester. 'We bought this horse because he is he has got a cross of two brothers,'' Williams said. 'His sire Menari is by Snitzel and he's out of a Hinchinbrook and Snitzel and Hinchinbrook are half-brothers. 'I am quite a fan on inbreeding and so we bought this horse based on his pedigree.' For the record, Manwari's inbreeding is a 4 X 4 doublecross of Snippets who happened to win the Galaxy some 24 years before Williams won it with giant-killer, Shelby Sixtysix. Speaking of 'ageless' horses, Williams makes a solid case for now nine-year-old Sapphires Son who tackles the Nutrien Harcourts Benchmark 58 Handicap over his favoured distance of 1600m. The son of former Vinery Stud resident Pluck's last win came in the nation's capital the day before Bella Nipotina's brave salute in the $20 million The Everest (1200m). That said, his recent form stands-up well in what is clearly an open and competitive mile race and while carrying a featherweight of 51kg after apprentice Dale Cole 's 4kg claim. 'He is very one-paced and he needs a lot to go right for him,'' Williams said. 'I've put Dale on him quite a bit because he is an easy to ride. Dale did ride him very well at Forbes bit Forbes is a track where you need to be running forward from the 600m and he just got held up a little bit longer than we would have liked. 'He looks to be best suited going out to 1600m and if we get a downgrade of the track it is only going to be to his benefit.'
