Hot Topic Michael Voss - Coaching in 2026. Should he remain beyond that?

[Blue_Fusion]

Coaches are always judged on wins and losses.

It's not always fair, but that's the world they're in.

Having said that GW and CD know that we have reset the list a bit here.

The non-negotiables are:

• Playing group effort each week
• No more "we can't win every game" talk
• No more "good try unlucky" talk
• Drop the underperforming players. You can never enforce standards if you allow them to keep getting a game whilst underperforming
• Better structures and ball movement, 4 years in and there hasn't been any improvement on this. So last chance

If he can do those, he might get extended.

 

[gab213]

Let's not start the Jack argument again; he's long gone and no longer has any relevance to Carlton.

 

[gbatman]

Silvagni going to St Kilda, not sure the Saints are a club with great culture and high standards. Hey, maybe they are but still mediocre? My guess, he has given up on success and wants to finish his career wealthy. A long and high contract for an injury prone play, it is good for him.

 

[Tommy Alvin]

Coaches are always judged on wins and losses.

It's not always fair, but that's the world they're in.

Having said that GW and CD know that we have reset the list a bit here.

The non-negotiables are:

• Playing group effort each week
• No more "we can't win every game" talk
• No more "good try unlucky" talk
• Drop the underperforming players. You can never enforce standards if you allow them to keep getting a game whilst underperforming
• Better structures and ball movement, 4 years in and there hasn't been any improvement on this. So last chance

If he can do those, he might get extended.

100% agree with this.

All I want is a committed effort every week and players have to earn their spot.

My gut says that GW and CD will make the whole football DEPT more accountable.

12 wins would be a pass.

TA

 

[Will_Hayward]

Let's not start the Jack argument again; he's long gone and no longer has any relevance to Carlton.

Agreed. Not deserving of any hate, but also not deserving our loyalty. He's a St Kilda player now.

Better to focus on me, Will Hayward. Or better yet, the topic of the thread, Voss.

 

[GT619]

Carlton comes first. its up to vossy now

 

[JustOneTime]

There is definitely enough good players on the list for Voss to work with. But the gameplan of the last 4 years simply wont cut it. Antiquated and frustrating to watch.

Will be pleasantly surprised if Vossy can oversee a change in transition and turnover footy. It would need to be a brand based on attack offsetting what i think is a very weak defensive 7. The defence need a new gameplan that builds up their confidence because even Weitering was starting to panic in key moments. Their rebound/turnover output from the back 7 is woeful.

I find Carlton a weird supporting experience. Zac Williams was close to an all australian rebounding defender for GWS and better than any small rebounding defender we have for 'creation/attack' but Carlton play Hollands, Carroll, Boyd etc.

With Hayward, Motlop and Ainsworth, 100% id move Zac W back. The stupidity of that one game after a break out injured for Zac that everyone defined him as a poor defender hurts the brain as one of the two free kicks against him wasnt there.

 

[Blue1980]

There is definitely enough good players on the list for Voss to work with. But the gameplan of the last 4 years simply wont cut it. Antiquated and frustrating to watch.

Will be pleasantly surprised if Vossy can oversee a change in transition and turnover footy. It would need to be a brand based on attack offsetting what i think is a very weak defensive 7. The defence need a new gameplan that builds up their confidence because even Weitering was starting to panic in key moments. Their rebound/turnover output from the back 7 is woeful.

I find Carlton a weird supporting experience. Zac Williams was close to an all australian rebounding defender for GWS and better than any small rebounding defender we have for 'creation/attack' but Carlton play Hollands, Carroll, Boyd etc.

With Hayward, Motlop and Ainsworth, 100% id move Zac W back. The stupidity of that one game after a break out injured for Zac that everyone defined him as a poor defender hurts the brain as one of the two free kicks against him wasnt there.

Thing is with Williams and his body, it seems hard to rely on him for anything, even though we have got the majority of the last 2 seasons out of him. I like him up forward, I think it's horses for courses, but yes the option to shift him back now is more realistic as we have more options forward. I'd probably still keep him forward, we will have more options in defence next year too with Newman back and Florent on the list now too.

Also we will see re Vossy, how much is it being hamstrung by the playing personnel he has had where it's been very contested ball or bust. I mean we have played finals under him twice, so it's not like we can't play winning footy with him coaching.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Newman + George + Hayward + Florent...

Might entice Horse to join the club...

 

[Accidental genius]

Newman + George + Hayward + Florent...

Might entice Horse to join the club...

I assume he had a good longish relationship with Innes as well (?)

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

People said that Voss needed more support around him. He has that now. Davies will give him all the support he needs, but also hold him to account. Wright will check in with him regularly too. He has new coaches around him. No excuses now.

No, I do not consider the loss of Charlie, TDK or Silvagni an excuse. 1 was awful in 2025 and wasn't held to account at selection time. TDK started well and then gave up because he knew he was going. Jack played half a season. We have added in a few B graders to replace them and have players coming back.

This will all be about attitude. Our culture has been cleaned up in one off-season for mine. Maybe a few lingering remnants, but they can't hide now.

 

[katmanblue]

I know it's fashionable to dump on the Silvagnis these days, but JSOS was one of the few players you could always count on to give 100% every single game. Not convinced he belongs in the same category as Charlie, TDK, Gov, etc

100% on the field. I wonder whether he was a destabilising influence off the field. Constantly questioning the coaches etc.

 

[bmaurizio]

Our culture has been mostly reset we all agree, more work may need to be done next season.
Voss’s tenability remains to be defined , I’ll reserve an opinion until after the mid season break.
Vossy does not inspire, game plan is not modern and his tactical ability is lacking too.
Is he the best choice to bring our club forward? I’m not confident however he now has great support from GW & CD which will play a crucial part in our future destiny.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

People said that Voss needed more support around him. He has that now. Davies will give him all the support he needs, but also hold him to account. Wright will check in with him regularly too. He has new coaches around him. No excuses now.

No, I do not consider the loss of Charlie, TDK or Silvagni an excuse. 1 was awful in 2025 and wasn't held to account at selection time. TDK started well and then gave up because he knew he was going. Jack played half a season. We have added in a few B graders to replace them and have players coming back.

This will all be about attitude. Our culture has been cleaned up in one off-season for mine. Maybe a few lingering remnants, but they can't hide now.

Our culture has been mostly reset we all agree, more work may need to be done next season.
Voss’s tenability remains to be defined , I’ll reserve an opinion until after the mid season break.
Vossy does not inspire, game plan is not modern and his tactical ability is lacking too.
Is he the best choice to bring our club forward? I’m not confident however he now has great support from GW & CD which will play a crucial part in our future destiny.

I think it's a bit too early to claim the culture reset/cleaned up idea.

While I agree we look to be making good decisions and setting things straight, there is one thing that will reveal the truth and one thing only - on field performance.

I'm not just talking winning more games:

• the effort and buy in from the playing group has to be there consistently
• Underperforming players must be dropped instead of being given a free ride...
• no more rushing back players from injury because they're favoured over other players who have been performing in their position
• selfless footy (Cottrell outside banana shot at goal when options were available as an example)

Once we see these areas improve, our on field performance will improve and then we can say our culture has been cleaned up. What GW, CD and MV have done, is take good steps so far... but we have a long way to go still.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

"I will just say that probably the message is not so much what he told me, but what I get out of it was, it's about persistence and modelling the right things and you gotta believe, keep getting after it.

"It really doesn't matter what other people say. It's more about what we think and what we believe."

^^ That was Michael Voss talking about his time with Ange Postecoglou...

Ange has been sacked Vossy... because he was persistent... didn't matter what other people say...

I really hope this is an eye opener for him now... if he persists with the same strategy, and insists it is the way to go, he'll 100% be out the door next year.

 

[JustOneTime]

IMO, it has nothing to do with culture. It just has to do with a shit gameplan and coaches not understanding the right KPIs to target players on. E.g. Curnow didnt ever chase but kept getting games - that is on the coaching and hold him to account.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

No excuses now.

I would like to have seen someone added with a role in the strategy/innovation or opposition analysis areas.

 

[BluStreak]

So Doc mentioned JSOS in his farewell speech as being a grump etc. I wonder if that might be because JSOS was complaining about standards being inconsistent rather than being a destablising influence. Just a thought.

 

[JustaBattler]

Carlton has to play an entertaining and exciting brand of football - otherwise he is gone. Run has been added and decks cleared - the Club wont be waiting on Voss past 2026 unless it is really clear everyone is happy and everything is humming. He has every line now covered for leg speed and experience - the only real question mark will be over ruck and random injury to irreplaceables- (Harry and Weitering) knock on wood.

List will change again in end 2026 with likely retirements of Saad /Newman/ Haynes for starters - Carlton has to invest playing time in alternatives in stages during the year and that is assuming Walsh signs on.

Serious question marks over McGovern and Williams past 2026 as well.

We are only half way there in this 'reset' and BVoss better not be seen as a reason why Carlton isnt developing fast or attracting players.

Jury is still out.

 

[katmanblue]

So Doc mentioned JSOS in his farewell speech as being a grump etc. I wonder if that might be because JSOS was complaining about standards being inconsistent rather than being a destablising influence. Just a thought.

Could be. But we'll never know.

 

[BluStreak]

Could be. But we'll never know.

So true

 

[Revenant1995]

So Doc mentioned JSOS in his farewell speech as being a grump etc. I wonder if that might be because JSOS was complaining about standards being inconsistent rather than being a destablising influence. Just a thought.

SOS could've been both together...

 

[BluStreak]

SOS could've been both together...

this is just it. we are not there, yet are making up stuff to justify thoughts.

 

[Soapy V]

I think it's a bit too early to claim the culture reset/cleaned up idea.

While I agree we look to be making good decisions and setting things straight, there is one thing that will reveal the truth and one thing only - on field performance.

100% Correct

Signs are good and looks like we are doing right things but change in culture takes time and a lot of work and clear direction

So far, so good but still long way to go. At least we have started

 

[Soapy V]

IMO, it has nothing to do with culture. It just has to do with a shit gameplan and coaches not understanding the right KPIs to target players on. E.g. Curnow didnt ever chase but kept getting games - that is on the coaching and hold him to account.

Couldn’t disagree more

Culture is the pillar for everything else and the examples you state are very much to do with culture