Carlton Bosses Defend Coach’s Exit
Carlton bosses have defended the handling of coach Michael Voss’ exit from the club, claiming that conversations remained “transparent” through the process. The club confirmed Voss had resigned on Tuesday, with John Fraser appointed interim coach as the team prepares to face the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
His departure comes after a horror run of losses for the Blues, who have recorded just one victory from nine outings this season.
Carlton president Rob Priestley said the club had no regrets over allowing Voss to continue in the role this season and revealed he got the ball rolling last week.
“I’m not gonna apologise for effectively allowing the coach to coach out his final year – we wanted to give him the opportunity,” Priestley said.
“We made significant change last year, which was intended to support Michael around the areas that we felt still needed to improve. We have been very honest about the areas we needed to improve … off the back of all those conversations, he came in on Friday and said ‘I think with all the speculation about my role, it’s the right time’.
“We were debating timing and whether it’s into the bye or whatever it is, but he came in and said he thinks it’s the right time to clean the air.
“He resigned, so the decision is mutual today – but we had been talking about all the areas we needed to improve on and that had been a very transparent conversation.”
Chief executive Graham Wright echoed those sentiments.
“It was a unanimous decision that we wanted to go forward with Michael [into this season], so we don’t regret that at all,” he said.
“The reality of the position that we find ourselves in is that it was time for a change.”
Priestley defended the fact Voss did not front the press conference, explaining the outgoing coach was spending time internally with players and staff.
It comes as players have been forced to front up and face the music. Blues captain and two-time Brownlow Medal winner kept it short and sweet on Tuesday.
“He’s been a great mentor and a great coach to me,” Cripps said.
“Our relationship’s really strong and it’s all I can really say now.”
Blues recruit Ollie Florent said, “It’s really sad to see him go”, while a number of other players and club staffers avoided media on their way into the building.
The Blues sit 16th on the AFL ladder and share a dismal win-loss record with the rebuilding Essendon and Richmond. Their sole win this season came against the youthful Tigers in the second round.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn knows what it’s like to lose a coach, after Simon Goodwin was sacked by the Demons mid-season last year.
“I feel like it’s premature,” Gawn said of the Voss exit on Triple M Melbourne’s Mick in the Morning.
“Fifteen weeks for an interim coach is a long time. I’d be worried if I was a captain with an interim coach for 15 weeks.
“It’s a big job for Cripper (Cripps). He’s had a mountain of work over the last five, six years, and he’s got another big one now…to keep everything going.”
The Blues have developed a worrying habit of fading out of games after half time. Their latest loss was an 11-point defeat to two-time reigning premiers Brisbane.
The club has also been heavily criticised in recent weeks in respect to the handling of player Elijah Hollands, who played an entire game against Collingwood in round six despite showing erratic behaviour.
The Blues claimed Hollands had suffered a mental health episode on the night but Voss and his staff have been grilled over the decision to allow Hollands to continue playing despite clearly being unwell.
The AFL last week whacked Carlton with a $75,000 fine over the incident and CEO Andrew Dillon said the Blues had “brought the game into disrepute”.
Voss, 50, was a champion player in the successful Brisbane Lions team at the turn of the century before retiring in 2006. He has since coached more than 200 AFL games with both the Lions and Blues. He took the reins at Carlton in 2022.
