Now Voss has spoken for the first time since his departure.<\/p>\n
Talking to the official AFL website<\/a>, he said: \u201cAt peace with it (the decision). I\u2019ve had a few days to think about it. There\u2019s one thing knowing it and another thing doing it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had had a chat on Friday, I\u2019d been feeling that it was time. Why that conversation was important is that I didn\u2019t want the result (against Lions) to be the emotional response to change my mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping for a miracle on grass too\u2026I didn\u2019t want the game to sweep me up in emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cI was getting to a point where the decision had to be made. It got activated pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n He then went on to add: \u201cI asked for their (board) support,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt was on shaky ground and the inevitable was becoming clearer, but the fighter and competitor in you wants to take things as far as you can.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just feels right.\u201d<\/p>\n In a press conference earlier in the day, Carlton president Rob Priestly, CEO Graham Wright and GM of football Chris Davies addressed the media.<\/p>\n Wright said Carlton was determined not to let 2026 be a \u201cwasted year\u201d and confirmed the club would go through a thorough process to appoint the next coach.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael is a strong leader who has led our football club with great professionalism and a genuine commitment to Carlton\u201d, Priestley said in a letter to members.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross five seasons, he has invested himself fully in the role and handled himself with impressive character throughout. The fact this decision is mutual reflects his selfless mindset and the Club thanks him sincerely for his contribution.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the off-season, the Club was very intentional in implementing changes to refresh our football program, including appointing a new and highly credentialed General Manager of Football in Chris Davies, introducing six new coaches, and beginning a significant transformation of our playing list.<\/p>\n \u201cThose changes were made not only with the long-term interests of the football club front of mind, but also with the intent of ensuring Michael had strong support to achieve progress in the areas identified for improvement. <\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, beyond results alone, we have not seen the intended evolution in our game, and to his credit, Michael acknowledges that now is the right time for the Club to move forward under the leadership of a new senior coach. <\/p>\n \u201cOur club will now commence that process, which will be led by Graham and Chris, two of the most respected football people in this industry, and we will go about this the right way to bring the best AFL Senior Coach we can to Carlton.\u201d <\/p>\n Blues CEO Graham Wright said: \u201cWe want to consistently contend and ultimately win premierships – that is why every single one of us is here – but to do that you have to be a realist about the gap we currently need to make up on the competition.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you are seeing right now is a football club in genuine transition, and we are not going to shy away from that reality. <\/p>\n \u201cSince last year, virtually every senior leadership position has changed – President, Chief Executive, General Manager of Football, six new coaches, a playing list undergoing significant regeneration, and now the Senior Coach.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Carlton person is content with where we are at right now and we must demand better of ourselves. We will not be taking shortcuts, and we will be moving with real intent and purpose – attacking the draft again this year, marking three consecutive years of accessing elite young talent before Tasmania enters the competition, allowing us to continue building the next wave of talent through our AFL playing group.<\/p>\n \u201cRest assured we intend to maximise the remainder of the season to explore the possibilities within our playing list, and the desire to improve our on-field performance will absolutely remain. <\/p>\n \u201cOur football department, led by Chris, remains intent on progressing forward and with Josh Fraser taking the reins in the interim, along with our other experienced coaches, we look forward to seeing what this group can now produce with the clarity today\u2019s announcement has now provided.\u201d<\/p>\n Voss was in the last year of his contract and the writing was on the wall that a sacking was inevitable. <\/p>\n Carlton currently sits 16th on the ladder with one win from nine games, although the Blues showed more fight in a second half comeback against the Brisbane Lions last week. <\/p>\n Carlton legend Anthony Koutafides says he was \u201cshocked\u201d by the news. <\/p>\n \u201cThey were terrific against Brisbane. Maybe there was some hope there,\u201d he told SEN on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Voss\u2019 sacking was widely viewed as inevitable given he is in his fifth year at Carlton and the club\u2019s on field results have declined in the past two seasons. <\/p>\n The Blues have been plagued by second half fadeouts this season, giving up leads in most of their losses.<\/p>\n Carlton\u2019s list is in a transition phase after the Blues lost Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni during last year\u2019s trade period. <\/p>\n \u2018Flat\u2019 Carlton skipper addresses media<\/p>\n Players started arriving to the club around 10am, led by captain Cripps who spoke to the media on his way in. \u201cHe\u2019s going to address all the players, he\u2019s been a great mentor and a great coach to me so he just let me know before everyone else found out. Cripps denied the players were made aware of Voss\u2019 plan to resign before Friday\u2019s loss to Brisbane at the Gabba.<\/p>\n \u201cNah, nah, nah I only found out last night, mate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a sense of you\u2019re flat because you\u2019ve been through some good times but also some tough times with him and got a great relationship with Vossy. \u201cI am flat, you know, I was hoping we could get it done for him, he\u2019s such a great coach and I just wish him nothing but the best,\u201d Florent said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s welcomed me so nicely into this club and I just wish him all the best.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to keep playing for him, he\u2019s Michael Voss, he\u2019s led by example for so long and I\u2019ve never had this many cameras in my face before. Fraser and Ash Hansen are internal candidates to take over the head coach role, while Carlton current Carlton coaching mentor Adam Simpson, John Longmire, Nathan Buckley and Ken Hinkley are more experienced options.<\/p>\n Carlton is expected to undergo a thorough coaching search and will likely appoint a first-time coach.<\/p>\n Voss finishes at Carlton with 47 wins, 51 losses and a draw from 99 games.<\/p>\n Voss was a champion player, captaining Brisbane to three premierships and winning the Brownlow Medal, but he has not reached the same heights as coach.<\/p>\n The 50-year-old was previously head coach of the Brisbane Lions for 109 games. <\/p>\n He took Carlton to a preliminary final in 2023 and finals in 2024, but Carlton just missed finals under Voss in 2022 and finished 11th last year. <\/p>\n It had been thought Voss would stay on as coach until Carlton\u2019s round 14 bye. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a breath of fresh air,\u201d Jack Riewoldt said of the advantages of Carlton appointing a caretaker coach.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they are to move Michael Voss on that it\u2019s done with the utmost respect because from all reports inside Carlton throughout a very difficult time on field and off-field he\u2019s been outstanding,\u201d Jack Riewoldt said on Kayo Sports\u2019 On The Couch.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact of the matter is the bye is lingering and that seems like a potential time that it could happen.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what it does is it buys you time to get a look at everyone in season, so you still get a sample size of 10 rounds of assistant coaches coaching at their respective teams.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve lived this twice with Terry Wallace early days and then Damien Hardwick left and Andrew McQualter coached for the back half of that season.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is a breath of fresh air,\u201d Riewoldt said on Kayo Sports\u2019 On The Couch.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think the question they\u2019re going to ask is \u2018if we get a high profile coach in, does that increase our chances of getting someone like a Joel Amartey to our football club if the coach has been secured pre-finals?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n It has been a turbulent year for Carlton, which began when recently retired Blue Sam Docherty criticised the team\u2019s game style under Voss<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke to Vossy but obviously we\u2019ll chat more later today,\u201d Cripps said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur relationship is really strong and that\u2019s all I can really say now, guys. I will chat later on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am guessing I will chat to everyone later today but from my end I couldn\u2019t speak highly enough of Vossy.\u201d
First-season Blue Ollie Florent also stopped for questioning, signing off with a \u201cstick with us, it\u2019ll turn\u201d message to the fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really sad to see him go, thanks guys, I\u2019ve gotta go.\u201d<\/p>\n