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Voss keen to fill Carlton's AFL list holes

Shayne HopeAAP
New coach Michael Voss wants the Blues to embrace aspects of blue-collar football.
Camera IconNew coach Michael Voss wants the Blues to embrace aspects of blue-collar football. Credit: AAP

New coach Michael Voss rates Carlton's playing list "very highly" but is eager to address the squad's depth and core values over the AFL off-season.

After signing a three-year deal on Thursday, Voss has been charged with guiding the Blues back into the finals after an eight-year absence.

The 46-year-old's cause may be helped during the upcoming player exchange window, with Carlton likely to land strong-bodied Sydney midfielder George Hewett as a restricted free agent.

They are also frontrunners in the race to sign emerging Fremantle star Adam Cerra, who wants to move home to Victoria, while midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton has requested a trade to West Coast.

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The prospective moves come after the Blues spent big to recruit Zac Williams and Adam Saad at the end of last season, only to flop and finish 13th before David Teague's sacking last month.

Voss said he outlined his own view of Carlton's list to new president Luke Sayers and incoming chief executive Brian Cook during a lengthy coaching selection process, which was finalised on Thursday.

The Game AFL 2024

The Blues will now get to work on their priorities ahead of the trade period, which begins on October 4.

"There's no doubt that there's been a genuine top end (of talent) here, but our ability to be able to replicate it week on week in what is a very long season has proved a little challenging at times," Voss said.

"We're going to have to go to work on that.

"We're going to have to work on how we are as teammates and how we're going to back up day after day and bring the intensity we need to so we can sustain the performance to get us to where we need to go."

Carlton were heavily criticised for focusing too much on attack under Teague and Voss hopes to make the most of a forward line that is spearheaded by Coleman medallist Harry McKay and fit-again star Charlie Curnow.

But he said it starts with nailing blue-collar elements of the game.

"The fundamentals of any good football side is built off ensuring the contest is extremely robust and that we're very strong defensively to put ourselves in great positions on the field to score," Voss said.

"I'd like to think that for us to be ready for that moment when we are ready to play finals football, that we're strong in both those areas."

Voss has been handed a second crack at a senior coaching position, having led Brisbane for almost five years from his appointment as a 33-year-old in 2009.

He also had a long stint as an assistant at Port Adelaide (2015-2021).

The triple-premiership winning former Lions captain said consistency, reliability and durability will be the cornerstones of his coaching philosophy at Carlton.

"They're just tried and true values for high performance," Voss said.

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