Michael Voss finds himself at a pivotal moment in his coaching career as he struggles to recapture the momentum that propelled Carlton towards the finals in the latter half of the 2023 season. Charged with both stabilizing the club and improving its internal culture, Voss’s time at the helm has certainly been a mixed bag. He’s done more with less than the majority of the seven fulltime coaches that succeeded David Parkin, the last to guide Carlton to a premiership. This season in particular has raised questions about how much longer he can hang on.
Voss took over the reins at Carlton with the aim of restoring pride to a club that has struggled to regain its former glory. His journey launched with an exhilarating jumpstart. The team have risen from 15th after Round 13 and now sit only two wins away from a 17th coveted premiership. That turnaround garnered him a vote of confidence just short of two years ago. More importantly, he used that support to aggressively pursue a culture where both he and the players could flourish. That success seems like a long time ago as Carlton has not even come close to that showing of 2025.
Despite the club’s dismal performance the men at the top, Voss still has the loyalty of his captain — and the club’s most important player — Patrick Cripps. Cripps and others continue to back Voss, reflecting their belief in his ability to revitalize the team amidst adversity. That support may not be enough to save Voss’s seat. If the situation doesn’t get measurably better soon he’d be in trouble.
Carlton, on the other hand, is just starting to evaluate their own coaching landscape. Voss is unique among the experienced coaches — Brad Scott (Essendon), Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast), Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne) — who are all dealing with their own distinct issues. At 49, Voss is still youngish in the coaching ranks and has long-term ambitions of raising the premiership cup himself. On the current course of the year he has questions about his life after 2026.
It’s going to be a huge few months for Voss and the club’s hierarchy on and off field. If the results continue to go south, he won’t earn himself another season of leeway like 2023. It’s hard to imagine him completing the remainder of his contract without improving results. After all, the calling of change, however difficult to turn down, leads to questions about who would replace Voss if he’s booted out. As pressure builds on coach David Teague, Graham Wright, Carlton’s football director, must make sharp decisions should the club swing the axe on coaching staff.
Even with all of those challenges, Voss’s dedication to his position shines through. Looking back over three decades, there really isn’t any sign that throwing in the towel is written into his genetic code. He’s developed the reputation of a coach that can help calm the waters and improve team culture. Those qualities in her character are about to be tested in the most extreme way possible. As discussions around coaching decisions heat up across the league, Voss’s future hangs in the balance—a reflection not just of his performance but of Carlton’s broader ambitions within the AFL landscape.
