Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides was “shocked” by the news on Tuesday morning that Michael Voss has resigned as Blues coach.
Voss has been under immense pressure this season with Carlton winning just one game so far and currently enduring a seven-game losing streak.
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Adding to the scrutiny has been the fact Voss’ side have led at half time on five occasions in 2026, but have gone on to lose.
But two-time All-Australian Koutoufides thought there may have been cause for optimism after his old club kicked 11 goals in the second half at the Gabba on Friday night to only go down to the two-time reigning premier the Brisbane Lions by 11 points.
“I’m shocked given it’s only round 10,” Koutoufides told Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN. “It’s been a tough year. Only one win in nine rounds.
“They were terrific against Brisbane and maybe there was hope there, but they couldn’t get it over the line.”
The former Carlton captain and 1995 premiership player has been closer to the Carlton coaching box than other in recent times as he has been in a nearby commentary box for SEN’s Blues Radio.
Voss has traditionally coached from the bench, but returned to the box on Friday night and Koutoufides said as an onlooker, he could see “there was a lot going on”.
But after replacing David Teague for the 2022 season and taking Carlton to a preliminary final in 2023, Koutoufides was full of praise for the three-time Brisbane premiership captain.
“Vossy – he has been terrific at the club and what a wonderful man. I adore him as a lot of people do,” he said.
“He got to the prelim final and had the toughest task to beat Brisbane up there. He did a great job Vossy, a really good job.”
Voss took Carlton to the finals for the first time in a decade in 2023.
After beating Sydney and Melbourne at the MCG, they then fell to Brisbane at the Gabba in the preliminary final after kicking the first five goals of the game.
But it was the first time since 2001 that the Blues had made the final four, and they very much appeared to be in the premiership window.
In 2024, they were second on the ladder as late as Round 20 before falling away to finish eighth and be hammered by eventual premiers the Lions in an elimination final.
“I feel like we had the talent there. At the end of last season we lost three key players for us. So this year is a different line up but I think in those few years we had the players they just couldn’t get it over the line,” Koutoufides said.
“A few years ago maybe 2024 they looked like they might go on to win.
“It fell away so quickly. As fast as it came is disappeared so fast. They had the list but as you know it takes so much more than good players.”
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