‘Hollow joy’: No contentment for Voss despite backing of Carlton’s board

Voss had been under tremendous pressure as the Blues descended into a mess, with just seven wins, and no hope of playing finals.

At a marathon five-hour board meeting on Wednesday night, new chief executive Graham Wright recommended to club powerbrokers that Voss, 50, be allowed to complete this season, beginning against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night, and fulfil the final year of his contract.

Carlton coach Michael Voss says he is ready to make the required changes to his game style after the Blues’ board opted to retain him for season 2026.

“It sort of feels a little bit hollow joy in some ways. There is no contentment in how we have found ourselves here. And probably how it has played out, feeling like there is a contentment being able to get that reassurance that you get to see out your contract,” Voss said.

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“But there is also gratitude and a privilege to be able to continue to lead this football club, and to be able to have that sense of direction, to be able to not just attack these last three weeks but what next season looks like.

“Our eyes now come firmly fixed on what we need to be able to do next. The next thing we have in front of us is another game but what it does enable us to do is, at the right time, be able to think about how we progress this thing, and how we improve from where we are because, obviously, clearly, we want to be better.”

The Blues will now need to determine the future of Voss’ assistant coaches, and football department chief Brad Lloyd. Voss said he had not held any discussions about these roles.

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