Home

Excited Michael Voss unveiled as Carlton AFL coach

Shayne Hope and Anna HarringtonAAP
Michael Voss has been appointed AFL head coach of Carlton, succeeding the sacked David Teague.
Camera IconMichael Voss has been appointed AFL head coach of Carlton, succeeding the sacked David Teague. Credit: AAP

Michael Voss has vowed not to shy away from expectation and is determined to prove his doubters wrong in his second stint as an AFL senior coach after being appointed by Carlton.

The Blues announced the selection of Voss on Thursday, having sacked David Teague last month after an external review of their football department.

The 46-year-old takes the reins after Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon both turned down approaches from Carlton.

Blues president Luke Sayers immediately put the heat on Voss, reiterating his desire for the former power club return to the finals in 2022 after an eight-year absence.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“It’s largely important not to cap where we want to be,” Voss said.

“There’s some good talent here and that’s one of the real exciting parts of being able to coach this football team.

The Game AFL 2024

MORE AFL:

“I won’t step away from embracing expectations.

“We’ve got a rich history and have had some great success as a football club and we’ll embrace those expectations.

“But hopefully we can also shift the narrative a little to how we can actually play for an even greater purpose, which becomes even bigger than the result itself.”

A triple-premiership captain of Leigh Matthews’ dominant Brisbane Lions side, Voss coached them in 109 games between 2009 and 2013 - for 43 wins and a draw - before he was sacked.

He spent seven years as an assistant at Port Adelaide and was Ken Hinkley’s right-hand man as the Power reached successive preliminary finals in the past two seasons.

Critics have claimed Voss had his senior coaching chance at Brisbane, but the former tough midfielder is eager to silence them.

“There’s an element of that within me and I am essentially a competitor,” Voss said.

“Ratifying that as a player is one thing because it’s very easy to make a difference by the way that you play, but you do that very differently as a coach.

“For me as a competitor you’re always trying to get the best version of yourself and we’re not here to just be part of a group - we’re here to be the best.

“That’s what as competitors we’ll try to strive for.”

Carlton previously sought out Voss at the end of 2007 to replace Denis Pagan but he opted not to interview for the role.

The childhood Blues fan, who idolised club greats Ken Hunter and Wayne Johnston, interviewed after Brendon Bolton was axed in 2019 only for Teague to be appointed after a successful caretaker stint.

Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley also presented to Carlton this week but narrowly missed out on the role, having previously missed out to Craig Macrae for the Collingwood job.

Fellow Tigers assistant Andrew McQualter and Essendon’s Daniel Giansiracusa were also in the running at Carlton before the appointment of Voss.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails