Michael Voss has quit as Carlton coach following the Blues’ disastrous start to the AFL season. Out-of-contract at season’s end, Voss has decided to move on with the Blues 1-8 and effectively already out of finals contention.
It means his last game in charge was against his former club the Brisbane Lions, with Carlton fighting hard in the second half for a respectable 11-point loss against the dual reigning premiers last Friday night.
Former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser is expected to be the club’s interim coach, having re-joined the Blues’ coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season.
Voss coached Carlton 99 times after being appointed for the 2022 season, leading the club to a preliminary final in 2023 – the club’s best result since making the 1999 grand final.
The Blues were still able to reach finals in 2024, but were eliminated in embarrassing fashion in the first week and have won just 10 of 32 matches since the start of 2025.
Carlton sit 16th on the ladder, only ahead of Richmond and Essendon, as they prepare to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Voss previously coached Brisbane for five seasons, before he was sacked at the end of 2013.
The 50-year-old spent six seasons as an assistant at Port Adelaide, appointed Carlton coach when the Blues sacked David Teague at the end of 2021.
Voss could end up back in the media, having served as a commentator for two years after he retired from playing in 2006.
He was targeted as a future coach, even before his playing career ended, having captained the Lions to three-straight premierships between 2001 and 2003.
One of the greatest players of the last 30 years, Voss coached 206 times across his stints with Brisbane and Carlton.
More to follow.