Voss’s Carlton Future Hangs in Balance After Board Session

Uncertainty Grips Ikon Park as Coach’s 2026 Status Remains Undecided

The long-term role of **Michael Voss** as Carlton coach is still unknown following an extensive five-hour board meeting, with no definitive decision made regarding his position beyond the current season.

Board Deliberations Continue

Voss is presently staying in his coaching role, with only one senior club figure offering comment. When questioned about the significance of the day for Voss‘s tenure, vice-president **Patty Kinnersly** stated, “Every day is important for a football coach.”

Michael Voss leaves Ikon Park while the board meet. Picture: Glenn McFarlane

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 15, 2025

Voss departed the club’s headquarters around 5:30 PM, concluding a meeting that began several hours earlier. The gathering carried heightened importance for the coach, particularly in light of Melbourne’s recent dismissal of **Simon Goodwin**.

Market Pressures Mount

The Demons cited a desire to secure their preferred coaching candidate before the off-season when explaining their decision to sack their premiership-winning coach. Industry insiders suggest this move by Melbourne could compel Carlton to make an earlier determination on Voss‘s future, with the Blues’ coach now widely perceived as the most pressured tactician in the AFL.

According to Seven’s reporter **Mitch Cleary**, Voss‘s position is precariously balanced, despite having a contract for the upcoming year. This assessment comes as Carlton faces the reality of missing finals in 2025, failing to replicate last year’s preliminary final success.

Club Faces Key Decisions

While it was anticipated that Carlton would defer a decision until new CEO **Graham Wright** assumes his duties on August 15, the competitive coaching market, influenced by Melbourne’s actions, might force the club’s hand. The Blues also face critical choices regarding football operations manager **Brad Lloyd**, whose own future is in doubt, alongside evaluations of their assistant coaching staff.

The coaching carousel has seen several high-profile changes, with the AFL seeing a higher turnover in coaches recently. For instance, the 2023 season saw five coaches depart, indicating a trend of clubs making quicker decisions on leadership in the sport (AFL.com.au 2024).