Voss marked safe: Carlton back their coach for 2026

Oliver Caffrey | August 7, 2025

Carlton have taken the heat off Michael Voss, backing the under-pressure coach to lead the Blues into the final season of his contract.

After a lengthy board meeting at Ikon Park on Wednesday where his job was the main item on the agenda, the Blues have publicly backed Voss to continue in 2026.

Graham Wright, who will officially take over as Carlton chief executive from Brian Cook next week, recommended Voss stay on as coach.

The Blues board unanimously endorsed Wright’s view.

“For the last few months Graham and Michael have been meeting regularly, during which time they have been engaged in open and honest dialogue with one another on what is required for us to evolve as a football side,” Carlton president Rob Priestley said.

“Michael’s ability to lead our football club this year in the face of incredible pressure has displayed the attributes of a strong and selfless leader.

“Carlton always comes first for our coach, and Graham and Michael share a clear and aligned view on the opportunities to improve football performance.   

“We want to make it absolutely clear that Michael Voss is the coach of the Carlton Football Club and he will remain the coach of the Carlton Football Club.” 

Voss was under immense pressure following a horror season that will see the Blues miss finals for the first time since 2022.

Ahead of a clash with finals-bound Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, the Blues sit 13th with a 7-13 record.

It is a dramatic change of direction for Carlton, who have been famously impatient with coaches previously.

The former Brisbane Lions star is the Blues’ fourth full-time senior coach in the last 10 years, but the club’s history of brutal sackings goes well back into last century.

Although Voss is certain to continue, Wright –  a former football boss at Hawthorn and Collingwood – is expected to make significant change around the senior coach.

Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd has been in his role since 2018, there for the dismissals of Brendon Bolton in 2019 and David Teague in 2021.

There was no mention of Lloyd, or any of Carlton’s assistant or development coaches in the statement released by the club on Thursday.

Meanwhile, third-generation Blue Jack Silvagni appears increasingly likely to leave the club after meeting with several clubs, Carlton’s two biggest rivals – Collingwood and Essendon.

In career-best form before being sidelined with a groin injury, Silvagni – the son of legendary defender Stephen – has been ruled out for the rest of the season and could have played his last game with Carlton.

Star forward Charlie Curnow has toyed with the idea of playing elsewhere but his bumper contract until the end of 2029 would make it extremely difficult to leave.

Curnow is also out for the season after undergoing surgery to clean up a knee issue.

Carlton’s hierarchy will be hoping their show of solidarity and stability will yield similar results to Geelong in 2006 and Richmond 2016 when their senior coaches were under enormous pressure.

The Cats stuck with Mark Thompson and broke a 44-year premiership drought in 2007, while Richmond famously jumped from 13th to a flag in one year after backing Damien Hardwick.