Carlton’s head of football has thrown his support behind Michael Voss after the Blues’ latest collapse sparked fresh calls for the coach to be axed. Carlton gave up another solid lead against North Melbourne before going down to the Kangaroos on Good Friday to leave Blues 1-3 to start to the AFL season, and many supporters fed up with the situation.
But Carlton great Sam Docherty says it would be a “really poor decision” to sack Voss just four games into the new season. And the former skipper pleaded with disgruntled fans to give the under-siege coach some time to turn things around, after an off-season of upheaval both on and off the field.
Carlton’s head of football and a former Blues skipper have thrown their support behind Michael Voss as calls grow louder for his axing. Pic: Getty
“I just don’t think you can make a move on a coach at this time of the year. I think it would be a really poor decision,” Docherty said on 3AW radio. “They didn’t back him in fully and give him an extension, but they backed him in to see out this year of footy.
“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. I think you’ve got to let it ride out and see what happens over the next little period and then make the decisions there.”
Docherty – who retired last year after a 184-game career – says the sacking of veteran coach Mick Malthouse eight games into the 2015 season – should serve as a warning to fans. “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. So I think the Blues’ hierarchy, whether they listen to me or not… I think it would be silly to be making moves this early in the year. You’ve got to ride it out and there’s going to be a lot of pressure on the club, and everyone knows that.”
Former Carlton captain Sam Docherty says it would be a ‘really poor’ decision if the Blues were to sack Michael Voss just four games into the new season. Pic: Getty
(Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Carlton head of football Chris Davies said he would do whatever he could to support Voss after responding to the backlash around the Blues coach. But Davies accepted that disgruntled supporters had a right to be angry after describing their start to the new season as “disappointing” and frustrating”.
He 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.
“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.”
Carlton’s plight will be made even more difficult with vice-captain Jacob Weitering set to miss the Round 5 clash against Adelaide next week. Weitering enters the AFL’s concussion protocols after a nasty head knock in the 10-point loss to North Melbourne.
with AAP