Focus on the Task at Hand
Carlton coach Michael Voss has made it clear that he is not paying attention to the intense scrutiny surrounding his embattled AFL club. He insists that key stakeholders are still aligned and focused on the same goals. The Blues, who have started the season with a record of 1-3, have faced criticism for their poor second-half performances. With the team set to face Adelaide in the Gather Round, there is no place to hide from the pressure.
The situation has led to questions about Voss’s future as coach. Chris Davies, Carlton’s football boss, was asked about this on radio last weekend and assured that no decision would be made before the match against the Crows. However, former Melbourne great and commentator Garry Lyon has suggested that Carlton and Voss may eventually part ways.
Despite these suggestions, Voss remains committed to his role. He was backed by the club last August to see out the final year of his contract in 2026. His focus is on helping the Blues move out of their current slump. “I don’t pay any attention to it,” Voss said when asked about the external noise. “At some point in time you’ve just got to get on with the task at hand, and that’s what we’re doing. I’m not distracted off anything other than just getting the best out of the team and supporting them as best we possibly can to make the progress we need.”
Struggles in the Second Half
Carlton has struggled significantly in the second half of games this season. They have won just one of eight quarters after halftime and have lost considerable leads in their past two defeats against Melbourne and North Melbourne. “We’re not winning, so obviously you expect some level of scrutiny,” Voss said. “You appreciate that’s what’s going to happen every single week when you come off a game you should win and you don’t end up finishing the job. But also what you have to do is continually look at what’s real and what’s not real.”
Despite the challenges, Voss claims there is no disconnect with the club or the frustrated supporter base. “No, I don’t. Where we’re aligned on is we’re not happy with where we’re at,” he said. “I think we can agree on that.”
Challenges Ahead
Carlton will be without vice-captain and defensive rock Jacob Weitering due to a concussion for the upcoming match against Adelaide. The Crows are also under pressure after a 1-3 start to the season. “Adelaide are a team that do bring an enormous amount of pressure, and we’ve got to make sure that we can absorb that,” Voss said. “We’ve also got to make sure that we can go from inside out really fast because they’re a team that can do that. And clearly they’ve got some scoring threats, so our defence is going to have to be right on.”
