Seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley has lauded besieged Blues coach Michael Voss’ “first-class” demeanour across recent weeks as Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt pointed to the potential advantages of Carlton appointing a caretaker.
Despite an improved showing against Brisbane on the weekend, the Blues have still lost their past seven straight games to sit 16th on the AFL ladder.
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Unsigned beyond this season, Voss now appears highly unlikely to be recontracted by Carlton, which would face a delicate balancing act if it moved on the coach, according to CODE Sports reporter Jon Ralph.
“The greatest challenge for Carlton is to exit Michael Voss with all of the respect that he deserves, but also finding a coach before the finals campaign starts,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s On The Couch on Monday night.
“That would give Carlton all the time it needs for massive list calls. The likes of Patrick Cripps, Harry McKay and also chase the likes of Joel Amartey.
“If you’ve got a coach in place by September 1, you can make that call and make that pitch and show your vision.
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“The roadmap for Graham Wright – the former Collingwood CEO – would seem to be very similar to five years ago when the club (Collingwood) did move on from Nathan Buckley. That was a decision they made to appoint Craig McRae by September 1.
“Everything is up for grabs (at Carlton), but first they have to find a way to move on Michael with class and dignity.”
Riewoldt said it was “critically important” the Blues treat Voss with the “utmost respect”, but added from his experience there can be benefits to moving on a coach in-season.
“From all reports inside Carlton, through what has been a really difficult time on-field and off-field, he (Voss) has been outstanding,” Riewoldt told On The Couch.
“The fact of the matter is the bye is (looming) and that seems like a potential time where it could happen. But it buys you time to get a look at everyone in-season, so you still get a sample size of 10 rounds of assistant coaches coaching at their respective teams and having a look at your own team.
“I’ve lived this twice with Terry Wallace early days then Damien Hardwick left (Richmond) … I think it breaths a breath of fresh air.
“I think the question they’re going to ask is if you get a high-profile coach in, does that increase your chances of getting someone like a Joel Amartey – or potentially more talent – into your football club knowing that the coach has been secured pre-finals?”
Buckley, who parted ways with Collingwood as coach midway through 2021, empathised with Voss’ situation.
“It can be difficult because you take a huge amount of responsibility as a senior coach for the current representation of your team and it’s not always fully accurate,” he told On the Couch. “I see Carlton as a team who has great potential but they’re not quite putting it together at the moment.
“But I just think the way he’s carrying himself has been first-class. We’ve had the Elijah Hollands situation month ago … the way that he’s presented has been strong. He hasn’t wavered at any point.
“I think that’s really strong leadership – would you expect anything else from Michael Voss? – and I think he’s a man that knows that he’s putting everything that he possibly can into it, which makes the alternatives palatable given that he knows there’s no more he can do.”
Voss’ Blues fell 11 points short of an unlikely upset over the Lions last week after trailing by 49 points early in the third term.
Despite their impressive second-half comeback, Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said he walked away from the game glass half-empty on Carlton.
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“You pay it off on the night because they’ve had their head kicked in for a long time and there were admirable parts to it. But I got home and said: ‘I’m not having any of it,’” Lyon told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night. “They still only played a half of footy in the end, flipped it around from one half to the other.
“They can take it where they want and build on it and write whatever story they want around it. For me … the hardest thing for Carlton right now is to win when they know they should, which they haven’t been able to do. The easiest thing for them to do is to try and win when they know they can’t – and that’s the way I looked upon it on the weekend.
“No one expects them to win when they’re 49 points down, so the easiest thing to do is to try and win when you know you can’t.
“Do it for longer than a half, do it when you’re expected to win, have that lead of eight points into the third quarter then kick the clutch goal and then everyone else rise up … Do it when you’re supposed to do it.”
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