Coach Voss Remains Confident in Team Spirit Despite Struggles
In the midst of another high-pressure press conference, Carlton coach Michael Voss was asked whether the team’s spirit remained strong despite their poor second-half performances. Without hesitation, he responded, “Oh mate, absolutely.” This statement highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Blues as they navigate a difficult season.
Voss has been under significant pressure since the start of last year, and the situation worsened after Carlton lost its ninth game in that timeframe following a halftime lead. The role of a coach is often evaluated not only by results but also by the team’s spirit and effort. Voss, addressing a large group of journalists at Princes Park on Tuesday morning, emphasized that he believes in the hunger and determination of his squad.
“The key part is doing it when it’s getting tougher and how do we still execute when we need to through those critical times,” Voss said. “Everything is telling me, if you look at behind-the-goal vision, the little things, being there for each other has been a real positive for us. You’ve also got to do it for the entirety of the game and that’s what we’ve been challenged on.”
Some of these challenges have led to important conversations within the team. However, Voss acknowledged that there are areas where the team is falling short. “But, like I said, we’re not walking away with four points so you’ve got 80 per cent of your work that you’re happy with but there’s 20 per cent clearly letting us down.”
The Blues currently sit at 1-3, having suffered losses to Sydney, Melbourne, and most recently North Melbourne on Good Friday. While a loss to Sydney was somewhat expected, the defeats to the Demons and Kangaroos, especially given their control of the game, have been particularly disappointing.
Voss understands that criticism comes with under-delivering from winnable positions. However, he is focused on preventing this criticism from affecting the internal dynamics of the club. “We’re not winning, so you obviously expect some level of scrutiny,” he said. “You appreciate that’s what’s going to happen every single week when you come off a game you should win and don’t end up finishing the job.”
At the same time, Voss emphasized the importance of distinguishing between what is real and what is not. “But also what you have to do is continue to look at what’s real and what’s not real, some of that you have to factor in – you can’t ignore it. At the same time, when you’re committed to what’s important to you, you tend to give that more voice.”
This balance between accountability and maintaining a positive environment is a challenge for the coaching staff. “That’s the challenge for us: how do you give voice to what’s happening inside, celebrate people but also still have the high standards and accountability that’s needed.”
Voss also highlighted the necessity of continuing dialogue and analysis around the team. “We’ve got to understand there’s going to be continued dialogue and analysis that always happens around teams, it certainly happens here. But within all that, how do you still as a performer lock in on what you need to do and put all that aside for a couple hours a week and look at your teammate besides you and stand up for them.”
He sees an opportunity in this challenge. “If anything, there’s an opportunity in that and we’ve got to take that opportunity.”
Carlton will face Adelaide this Thursday night to kick off Gather Round, marking a new chapter in their season. The team will need to regroup and focus on improving their performance, both in terms of execution and overall consistency.
