{"id":874652,"date":"2026-08-31T05:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T05:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/874652\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T05:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T05:34:14","slug":"ex-carlton-coach-michael-voss-gives-assessment-of-blues-afl-finals-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/874652\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Carlton coach Michael Voss gives assessment of Blues’ AFL finals hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Voss has stopped short of declaring Carlton a genuine premiership threat but sees no reason his former team cannot make a deep run in the finals.<\/p>\n

The Blues are riding a wave of momentum under Josh Fraser, who has engineered a remarkable turnaround since taking the coaching reins when Voss stepped down in May.<\/p>\n

Fraser has won 11 of 14 matches at the helm, capped off by the come-from-behind victory over Melbourne in last week’s wildcard encounter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The staggering run has optimistic Carlton fans daring to dream of a first premiership since 1995, ahead of an elimination final against Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.<\/p>\n

But with another three wins required in sudden-death matches just to reach the grand final, Voss said a drought-breaking flag was most likely beyond the Blues this year.<\/p>\n

“It’s very hard, isn’t it? Percentages say that’s a tough gig,” Voss said.<\/p>\n

“But they’re certainly playing a high level of football if you look over the course of the last 10 or 11 weeks.<\/p>\n

“They’re the equal-form team of the competition, so there should be no reason that they can’t look at every game and say that it’s winnable.”<\/p>\n

\"Jacob<\/p>\n

The Blues ended the Demons’ season last Saturday night. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)<\/p>\n

Voss fell on his sword at Carlton after a 1-8 (win-loss record) start to the season<\/a> and is determined to look forward rather than back at what might have been.<\/p>\n

He said Fraser was “doing a great job” as coach and results showed “the right decision has been made” in appointing the former Collingwood ruck as Blues coach.<\/p>\n

Voss lauded captain Patrick Cripps and leaders of the playing group for their efforts in turning Carlton’s season around.<\/p>\n

“One of my last messages with the leaders was: ‘It’s over to you and how do you make this a really player-led group?'” Voss said.<\/p>\n

“They’ve clearly done that and more numbers are coming with them, so the heavy lifting isn’t just on a few.<\/p>\n

“You’ve got a lot of people responding and there’s some pretty incredible human beings amongst that group.<\/p>\n

“I’m just really pleased that they’re getting the rewards that they’ve obviously been working really hard for.”<\/p>\n

Voss says Carlton in a better place than when he took charge<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael Voss has struck a defiant tone after leaving Carlton, insistent the AFL club is in better shape than when he started as coach.<\/p>\n

Carlton has won three of its past four meetings with Geelong, with Voss noting extra attention on key Cats duo Tom Stewart and Gryan Miers had served them well.<\/p>\n

Voss said the Blues’ work in the contested areas of the game would hold them in good stead.<\/p>\n

“Where Geelong are underestimated quite a fair bit is their contested game,” he said.<\/p>\n

“They’re not so much dominant when it comes to stoppages, but they are post-stoppage.<\/p>\n

“Carlton can do that blindfolded and they showed that again on the weekend against Melbourne.<\/p>\n

“When the whips were cracking they really ramped that part of the game up.<\/p>\n

“Because they match up really well against that, they actually put themselves in a really good position to win games.”<\/p>\n

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