By Jon Pierik
Carlton coach Michael Voss says he is ready to make the required changes to his game style after the Blues’ board opted to retain him for season 2026.
At a marathon five-hour board meeting on Wednesday night, new chief executive Graham Wright recommended to club powerbrokers that Voss, 50, be allowed to complete this season, beginning against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night, and fulfil the final year of his contract.
Michael Voss taking questions from the media on Friday, a day after Carlton issued a statement confirming his future at the club.Credit: Eddie Jim
Voss had been under tremendous pressure as the Blues descended into a mess, with just seven wins, and no hope of playing finals.
Ahead of Friday’s training session at Ikon Park, Voss expressed gratitude to the board.
“It sort of feels a little bit hollow joy in some ways. There is no contentment in how we have found ourselves here. And probably how it has played out, feeling like there is a contentment being able to get that reassurance that you get to see out your contract,” Voss said.
“But there is also gratitude and a privilege to be able to continue to lead this football club, and to be able to have that sense of direction, to be able to not just attack these last three weeks but what next season looks like.
“Our eyes now come firmly fixed on what we need to be able to do next. The next thing we have in front of us is another game but what it does enable us to do is, at the right time, be able to think about how we progress this thing, and how we improve from where we are because, obviously, clearly, we want to be better.”
The Blues will now need to determine the future of Voss’ assistant coaches, and football department chief Brad Lloyd. Voss said he had not held any discussions about these roles.
Voss’ game plan built on contested possession and defence has failed the test this season, the best teams employing greater outside run, rebound and dare by hand, particularly from defence. The Blues have not been built to deal with this new style, while injuries – particularly the season-ending knee injuries to top draft pick Jagga Smith and half-back Nic Newman – have also hurt.
Their inability to play out games, having lost a league-high six times after leading at half-time, including a terrible fade-out against Richmond in round one, has also caused angst.
Voss acknowledged his game plan would be a topic of discussion ahead of the 2026 campaign.
“We are going to continue to value our defence. Where our points of improvement need to be are clearly how we finish [in front of goal]. So, the brand and style will, obviously, be a continued discussion. We will look at those at the right time. We are constantly reviewing that,” Voss said.
“But, in terms of what we value, that doesn’t shift too much. We have been pretty strong on that for most of the year. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have points of improvement.
“I think defence is still going to be important for us. If you look at any team that goes the journey, I reckon they are backing on the fundamentals of the game, and that’s what we will continue to reinforce. Where our points of improvement will be is, adding on those layers within our game style, so you become a bit more about a three-phase team, rather than, necessarily, one or two. We will grow that out - add capacity to where we need to do it.”
While wanting improvement, Voss said the more open game embraced by rivals had not disadvantaged the Blues, who have struggled skill wise.
“I think that’s the leverage that we need to be able to continue to improve. Contest and effort is still the primary part of what we need to bring every single week. There is a level of detail that is needed on that, and there is a level of contest that you need in the transition game, because transition is being able to win the ball back,” he said.
Melbourne’s decision to part ways with Simon Goodwin this week had intensified the pressure on the Blues to make a call, for the Demons have first dibs in a high-quality market featuring premiership coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson, Collingwood great Nathan Buckley, who led the Magpies into the 2018 grand final, and even Port Adelaide’s Ken Hinkley, who is about to finish at Alberton. Hinkley could yet link with the Blues in a football-department role.
The Blues can now have greater focus on their personnel, namely reborn defender Jack Silvagni and ruckman Tom De Koning. Silvagni, an unrestricted free agent, has met with Collingwood and reportedly with Essendon, and also has the Western Bulldogs as an interested suitor.
Voss said he was “very confident” Silvagni would remain with the Blues.
“I am very confident. He is in a position where he gets to explore what the next phase looks like for him. It is what free agency has done,” Voss said.
De Koning, who has had an offer before him from the Blues for months, appears set to accept the seven-year deal worth $12 million from St Kilda.
Speculation that Charlie Curnow may yet want out, despite publicly insisting he will be a Blue next season, continues to be a talking point among rival clubs, as does the future of fellow forward, Harry McKay.
The Blues have made the finals twice in Voss’ four seasons, falling in a preliminary final against Brisbane in 2023 when they led by five goals at half-time. They were also eliminated by the Lions last year, but in the first week of the finals.
Voss, a three-time premiership captain with Brisbane, also coached the Lions from 2009-2013, but reached the finals only once, in his rookie season.
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