Michael Voss sacking ‘on the table' as past comes back to haunt

Perth Now

27-05-2025

Carlton coach Michael Voss could soon be on thin ice as incoming chief executive Graham Wright and new president Rob Priestley prepare to make their mark.
The Blues have won just six of their past 20 games and sit 12th on the ladder heading into their bye, fighting back from an 0-4 start this season but yet to prove they could still be a finals contender.
It has left Voss's future under threat — with his history with the new boss coming to the fore.
'The intrigue is Graham Wright's role in this,' Craig Hutchison said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters.
'He has interviewed Michael Voss for a job before, and I think there is a decision to make.
'I think they will have a good look at the scenario, I don't think it's a given that he coaches next year.'
Caroline Wilson said Wright 'has made it clear that he will make some tough footy decisions' after taking over from Brian Cook, pointing to issues around list management and a swollen salary cap.
But she also noted the soon-to-be CEO's decision to overlook Voss for the Collingwood coaching job at the end of 2021.
'He did choose Craig McRae, with Adam Kingsley a close second, and he really wanted Sam Mitchell but obviously he stayed at Hawthorn,' Wilson said.
'So that doesn't augur that well for Michael Voss — nor does the fact that I am certain that a large percentage of coaches' wages will be put outside the salary cap.
'That's a decision coming at commission level in the next month, which will mean that paying out someone like Michael Voss will not be nearly as costly for Carlton.'
Asked to clarify if she was suggesting Voss could be sacked this year, Wilson said: 'I think it's on the table.'
'I think Rob Priestley and the new regime makes a difference (as well as) the fact the new CEO is a football man who sees the only problems at that club as being football,' she added.
Hutchison theorised Voss could survive with changes to his 'very thin' assistant coaching panel.
Kane Cornes, meanwhile, said Carlton's biggest issue is the list.
'I just think it's so clear and obvious what the problems are,' he said.
'Clearly it's personnel, there are so many holes, namely a small forward of any quality. They need one, probably two, maybe three.
'There's no attack off half-back and they are a key defender short, and their efficiency going inside — they're the worst or least efficient site in football so those are the issues that need to be cleaned up.
'But there just needs to be some calm. The last thing Carlton need is a new coach, the last thing they need to do is sack another coach.'
Hutchison said: 'That assumes he's the right coach.'
Cornes replied: 'Well we'll wait and see, we don't know that yet.
Hutchison: 'Four and a half years is starting to get a bit heavy.'
Cornes: 'We would've said the same thing about Damien Hardwick, it took him seven years.'
Nick Riewoldt believes there is 'still a lot going right' in Carlton's game, saying their defence is holding up.
'But it's more than just being able to defend,' he said.
'I think they're playing a side that suits the personnel they've got now, because they don't have leg speed, they don't have the ability to cover the ground, play the aggressive handball game that the best teams are playing.
'I think Michael Voss is working essentially with what he's got.'
Cornes highlighted Adam Cerra's lack of running against GWS as an issue.
'Carlton have too many plodders in their side that cannot run,' he said.
'It's a personnel issue and one that Michael Voss, I don't think, is going to be able to solve this year.'
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But trades to help the Blues in that area may not be the only moves they make in the off-season.
'I think they need to be brave with their list management,' Cornes said.
'What do they have? They don't have their first-round draft pick, they don't have salary cap room, so what are you going to do?'
He said 'it could be a blessing' if Tom De Koning opts to take up a big-money contract on offer from St Kilda, sending a compensation pick to Carlton.
Cornes floated the 'left-field' option of trading Sam Walsh before he comes out of contract at the end of next year.
'I get that he's everyone's favourite and you love him and you'd love to keep him but Walsh is the one for me,' Cornes said.
'At 25 years of age has he reached his peak? And this is a hard decision. Can you get something for him?
'And is it a win for Sam, who may look at Bailey Smith and go 'I'd love to be refreshed in my footy and a new challenge'. Is it at Geelong? He's been linked to Geelong.
'You get a great pick, you free up the money and you make a hard call to revitalise the list because I'm not sure what else you can do.'
Riewoldt argued Carlton had to hold a 'future captain' in Walsh but would consider trading Harry McKay to lean further on Charlie Curnow.
'They probably missed the peak (of his value) but clubs like Collingwood and Melbourne are in the market for a big power key forward,' he said.
'And Harry's still got plenty of good footy in him.'