Blues urged to explore trades for ‘unreliable five’, ‘refresh’ under Michael Voss

Carlton has been urged to stand by under-fire coach Michael Voss and instead explore trades for its “unreliable” recruits brought in from other clubs who “have failed to deliver consistently” as part of a mini list reset for 2026.

The 6-9 Blues’ finals hopes are all but over after a bruising 50-point loss to Port Adelaide as pressure intensifies on Voss and all facets of the club.

While Voss is contracted for 2026, his role is set to be heavily scrutinised by incoming chief executive Graham Wright as big chances loom at Ikon Park over the coming months.

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But Saints legend Leigh Montagna doesn’t think Voss is the problem, instead pointing to Carlton’s “unreliable five” — Adam Cerra, Adam Saad, Zac Williams, Mitch McGovern and Blake Acres.

Montagna thinks such names should be shopped to rival teams, arguing they’ve failed to “elevate” the Blues to bona fide contender status and “let them down” when their top-line stars like Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering and Charlie Curnow have been down on their best.

“I’m calling them the unreliable five,” Montagna began on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

“They are the five players they bought into this football club to elevate them to be a top four contender and premiership contender. For all sort of reasons these guys have been unreliable and haven’t got the job done.

“We know a lot of them have had injury troubles and they’ve been inconsistent with their form. They lack resilience. Have they got the leadership required? Because they’ve all been well paid and signed these big deals. But they have failed to deliver consistently.

“Mitch McGovern has finished top 10 in the best and fairest once. Adam Saad has never finished top five in a best and fairest. He’s been inconsistent and this is the lowest rated year of his career. Zac Williams has never been top 10 in the best and fairest. Blake Acres, as consistent and reliable as he is with his effort, his kicking has become a liability – he’s been bottom five in the competition for two years running for kicking.

“I’m probably being a bit harsh on Adam Cerra, because he’s finished fourth in the best and fairest. But they signed him and re-signed him to step up when the others haven’t been able to perform at their best. He hasn’t done that, he’s not a guy who elevates the group. He just goes with the flow.”

Mitch McGovern, Adam Cerra and Adam Saad have all been called out as unreliable. Source: FOX SPORTS

Montagna would move them for draft picks “anywhere between the 20s and 30s” that could be used as trade currency to target other players for a list recalibration under Voss for next year.

“Before you tip over Michael Voss I would look at maybe looking to move on some of these guys who haven’t got the job done,” the dual All-Australian said.

“Individually they’re all good players and they’ll all get an opportunity at another club to fill a need.

“But together at the Carlton Football Club they are not getting the job done. I think they need to be more open minded to making change with the list.

“I want to see Michael Voss have a list next year more accustomed to 2026 football with kickers and guys who can run and carry.”

Montagna would also be “absolutely open” to moving Harry McKay and believes the Blues should be bold this off-season in trying to “refresh” like the Western Bulldogs have over the past 12 months.

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“They’ll get Jagga Smith in, hopefully Elijah Hollands is fit and well. Nic Newman will be back. Bring in some other talent with some skill and move on some of these guys who haven’t been able to take them where they want to,” the St Kilda great added.

“I don’t think they need to go all the way back, I think you can refresh.

“Look at what Western Bulldogs and Luke Beveridge did. Everyone is critical of what he did (by trading) Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae. He moved on Liam Jones (to the VFL) and has been able to re-jig on the run.

“No one knew what Joel Freijah was going to do until he got an opportunity.”

The Blues’ salary cap is tight following a recruiting spree in recent years including the club aggressively trading up to get Jagga Smith with Pick 3 in the 2024 draft, leaving it without a first-rounder this year.

Free agent Tom De Koning is meanwhile expected to leave for St Kilda on a lucrative $1.7 million-a-season deal, which would alleviate salary cap pressure and net Carlton a first-round compensation pick.

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However dual premiership Kangaroo David King thinks the Blues would struggle to get enough value back to justify trading the likes of Saad and Cerra.

“I just don’t think you’re going to get much for them. I don’t think there’s many clubs that would buy them,” King said.

“I think they’re paying the price for sins of the past and that’s their lot.

“They’ve made these decisions and you’ve got to live with them.”

Voss is in his fourth season as senior coach at Ikon Park, with a 43-1-38 record during that period, but just 8-16 since this time last year.

Prior to Carlton’s preliminary final run in Voss’ second campaign in 2023, the club’s last post-season appearance was 2013.

“Before Michael Voss got to the club, the team hadn’t played finals for eight years. They had six different coaches in 25 years and none of them were successful — Wayne Brittain, Denis Pagan, Brett Ratten, Mick Malthouse, John Barker, Brendon Bolton and David Teague,” Montagna said.

“Voss comes in and in his first year they’re in the eight all season long and lose that heartbreaking (Round 23) game to Collingwood by a point to miss out. Second year he takes them to a prelim. Last year they make finals and are injury-ravaged against Brisbane at the Gabba and were never a chance.

“Yes, they have been poor this year and that was certainly one of their poorest performances (against Port). But before they just repeat history and try appease the fan base and sack Michael Voss and start again, I think sometimes you can look deeper.

“Sometimes players need to take more ownership and responsibility for what has happened to the team this year.”

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