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Voss had a "decent-enough runway": Carlton bosses address coach exit
SEN • May 12th, 2026 3:56 pm
It was time for change.
The simple message Carlton CEO Graham Wright repeated as he and members of the club board faced the media following news that Michael Voss had stepped down from his role at head coach.
With the club 1-8 this season and enduring just as many issues off the field as on, Voss stepped down form his role after 103 matches in charge.
The news was met by an outpouring of support and well wishing from the AFL fraternity with SEN's Kane Cornes congratulating Voss on walking away while Gerard Whateley took aim at the Blues saying they had set their man up to fail.
"We're one and eight. The reality of the position that we find ourselves in, as Rob's alluded to as well, is that it was time for a change," Wright said.
“One thing with Michael is he’s incredibly diligent, and he’s hardworking, he’s a great leader … whether we were a good enough team at the end, whether we had enough talent and that will be something we look at going forward into the future as well.
“When we came into the year we didn’t base it just on win-loss, and we’re not sitting here today saying it’s just win-loss, did we improve in the things we wanted to, we probably hadn’t made the leaps we would’ve liked to there.
“I think he had a decent-enough runway.”
Wright's position on the matter was echoed by Carlton President Rob Priestly who added: "We need a circuit breaker to move forward.
"Michael (Voss) acknowledges now is the right time to move forward under the leadership of a new senior coach.
“He came into Chris on Friday and said ‘I think with all the speculation about my role it’s the right time’, we were debating timing – whether it was into the bye or whatever it is, but he came in and said ‘I think it’s the right time to clear the air, give the club the right opportunity to move forward and focus on the future’.
“He resigned, so the decision is mutual today, but we had been talking about all those areas we need to improve on and that had been a very transparent conversation.
Asked if recent drama with Elijah Hollands had played any role in the decision, Priestly added: "What happened around Elijah was finalised from an AFL perspective last week and certainly didn't have anything to do with this."
The club confirmed that had given Voss the opportunity to speak alongside them in the press conference but it is understood he will conduct his own interview later today (Tuesday).
GM of Football Chris Davies was asked how the 50-year-old was holding up.
"Michael was in a very reflective mood earlier on and he spoke incredibly well to players and staff," he said.
"He was still urging the players to be better. It was an important message he gave. As someone that has been involved and supported the club for a long time, he wants it to be successful."
More to come.
