Blues want to keep stars as footy boss heads for exit
Anna Harrington and Roger Vaughan |
Incoming chief executive Graham Wright is adamant Carlton want to keep hold of their big-name stars as the Blues start to shuffle their football department around coach Michael Voss.
The Blues on Tuesday confirmed football manager Brad Lloyd will leave at the end of the AFL season, after seven years in the role – the first major casualty under Wright.
Last week, the Blues reaffirmed Voss would stay as coach heading into the 2026 season, following a recommendation from Wright.
The experienced football administrator, who will officially take over from Brian Cook on Friday, has no plans of offloading Voss’ best playing assets.
Wright was asked on Tuesday if he could guarantee Carlton’s ‘big five’ of Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh and Harry McKay would be there next year.
“We haven’t got enough good players,” Wright said.
“We’re like every team. We want more good players, I suppose, or elite players, and those guys are in that category.
“I’d hope they’re here – they’re all contracted.”
Key forward Curnow, contracted until 2029, has attempted to hose down links to Gold Coast but there has still been some trade speculation.
“He’s got four years to go, required player,” Wright said.
“I spoke to him this morning in a meeting we had … with all the players and staff, when we were talking about Brad.
“He’s recovering from his knee (surgery), looking to have a couple of weeks overseas at some stage and having a big pre-season. So I don’t think there’s anything there.”
Carlton also hope to keep hold of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni.
When asked if the two free agents were already gone, Wright said: “We hope not.
“They’ve both had contracts, probably for the last couple of months in front of them … we’re hopeful that they’re both here.”
Wright believed across the board the Blues needed more depth.
He noted some young players had performed quite well, but the team was “a long way off being top eight.”
“We need to get better, whether that be through the draft or trade or free agency or however we possibly can, we’ll be exploring everything,” he said.
With Voss locked in, changes were inevitable in Carlton’s football department.
After making the 2023 preliminary final and the top eight last season, this year they have plummeted out of finals contention and sit 14th.
Wright said after seven years with Lloyd running the football department, “it was just time for a new voice and new leadership”.
Ken Hinkley has been heavily floated as potential support for Voss but Wright batted away a question about the outgoing Port Adelaide coach and insisted Carlton don’t have anyone in mind yet for their next football boss.
He conceded new voices around Voss could “potentially” make him a better coach.
“We’re really clear that Michael’s the guy to lead us into the future,” Wright said.
Wright didn’t expect “wholesale” changes at the club, and is unlikely to change up their list management team led by Nick Austin.
The Blues are yet to make a call on Voss’ coaching structure, with Wright planning to let current assistant coaches know where their futures lay within the next couple of weeks.
AAP
