‘Hoping for a miracle’: Voss tells all in interview on ‘inevitable’ Blues exit, reveals details on private meeting

Former Carlton head coach Michael Voss has spoken for the first time since his departure from the club on Tuesday morning, revealing he is already “at peace” with his exit.

In a 40-minute one-on-one chat with veteran journalist Damian Barrett, the Blues mastermind detailed the processes that led to him stepping aside from the role after 103 games at the helm across four and a half seasons.

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Voss’ decision comes after a tumultuous start to the final year of his contract, with the Blues losing eight of their first nine games.

The three-time Brisbane premiership player and five-time All-Australian did not front traditional media at Ikon Park on Tuesday afternoon, with Blues President Rob Priestley, club football boss Chris Davies and chief executive Graham Wright instead taking close to half an hour of questions.

However, Voss told all that same afternoon to AFL Media in an extensive chat at Marvel Stadium.

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“I’m at peace with it. I’ve had a few days to think about it, and then get the final pieces of the puzzle,” Voss began.

“There’s one thing in knowing it, but it’s another thing saying it. Today, obviously you get to say it

“I did (speak to the players) a couple of times (today) … I think the big thing with everything, is it’s always about people for me. It always has. The job that you do is about moments, and sharing memories, and obviously the highs of the four points, the big wins, some of the premierships and finals that you win.

“We were under a lot of duress at times, but you stick together as a group and you form a lot of memories. Talking to those people is tough when you’ve had four or five years where you’ve worked so close together.”

Multiple reports on Tuesday after the major announcement have suggested that Voss’ exit had been in motion for at least a few days, a narrative he confirmed.

The 50-year-old is managed by his close friend Peter Blucher, who he says he sat down with in Brisbane ahead of their clash with the reigning premiers last Friday night to affirm his belief that now was the right time for him to depart.

“I caught up with him on the Friday morning, and we’d briefly had a chat the day before. I’d just been feeling that particularly the last week that it was time,” Voss revealed.

“Why that conversation was important, was because I didn’t want the result (against Brisbane) to really be the emotional or acute response to change my opinion or mind. I was hoping for a miracle on grass too there at one stage, but didn’t quite pull one off!

“If you won under those circumstances, and it’s all hypothetical, you think maybe you hang a little bit longer. But, I didn’t want the game to do that. If I was feeling that, which was really the first time I had felt that … I was getting to the point where a decision sort of had to be made.

“I had a coffee with Blucher in the morning, and it got activated pretty quick. I talked to Chris Davies soon afterwards, and then soon wheels got put in motion.”

Voss noted that discussions in the week prior with the likes of Priestley and Davies didn’t really suggest the axe would fall on him, though their silence on some fronts he felt were indicative of an “inevitable” end.

“I think your read in these situations is often what they don’t say, not what they do say. And I read enough into what they didn’t say to know that it was on shaky ground. The inevitable was starting to become clearer, but the fighter and competitor in you wants to take that as far as you possibly can,” he said.

“I think during the week last week was the first time I sat with the result the week before (14-point loss to Fremantle), and thought about were the group was at, where the club currently was, and maybe where they needed to go. Thinking about that more deeply and reflecting, I felt like it was time to elevate those conversations.

“I’ve been really privileged to coach this football club. There’s no animosity here, there’s no anger. I’m at peace with the decision.

Voss was, and is still is widely considered one of the league’s most physically and mentally tough figures to ever endure the game, after 289 games as a player before stepping into the coaching realm.

Quizzed by Barrett as to whether or not the scrutiny he has faced leading towards his departure had compressed him, the mastermind said its impact was one he simply “couldn’t explain”.

“What I can’t explain, is a lot of that has not impacted me as much as maybe what people see. You’re always getting people reaching out and checking in, and honestly, I’m fine until they check in — and then I need to check in whether I’m actually okay,” Voss said.

“I really do believe that how you show up, it’s on you. I’ve always taken great pride in before you walk through the door, you reflect on yourself as a leader and what you want to impact today.

“I’ve never wanted to ever hand my emotions to somebody else, I just don’t believe in that. We get to determine how we show up. What someone says about me shouldn’t alter my emotion or approach.”

MORE TO COME…