A Coach’s Resolve Amidst Challenges
In the midst of another high-pressure press conference, Carlton coach Michael Voss responds to a question with unwavering certainty. “Oh mate, absolutely,” Voss says firmly when asked if the spirit of his team remains strong despite the Blues’ struggles in the second halves of their games.
Voss has faced constant pressure since Round 1 last year, and the situation worsened after Carlton lost its ninth game in that timeframe, having led at halftime. A coach’s job security often hinges on both the team’s spirit and their performance, as results are not always guaranteed.
At a packed press conference at Princes Park on Tuesday morning, Voss is confident that he has a motivated squad at his disposal.
“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 added.
“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 that stuff has come up, some of those have been important conversations to have. 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 defeats to Sydney, Melbourne, and most recently North Melbourne on Good Friday. While a loss to Sydney was expected, the setbacks against the Demons and Kangaroos, especially with their control over the game, have been particularly tough.
Voss acknowledges that criticism comes with underperforming in winnable situations, but he is determined to prevent it from affecting the club’s internal environment.
“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. 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. 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.”
“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. If anything, there’s an opportunity in that and we’ve got to take that opportunity.”
Carlton will face Adelaide this Thursday night to start the Gather Round, marking another crucial test for the team as they strive to turn their season around.
