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Michael Voss has quit as Carlton coach following a disastrous start to the AFL season, the Blues admitting the club is in “genuine transition”.
Out-of-contract at season’s end, Voss decided to move on with the Blues 1-8 and effectively already out of finals contention.
“Across five seasons, he has invested himself fully in the role and handled himself with impressive character throughout,” Carlton president, Rob Priestley, said on Tuesday afternoon, confirming the news.
“Ultimately, beyond results alone, we have not seen the intended evolution in our game, and to his credit, Michael acknowledges that now is the right time for the club to move forward under the leadership of a new senior coach.”
Voss is yet to return to Victoria after the match at the Gabba.
“What you are seeing right now is a football club in genuine transition, and we are not going to shy away from that reality,” Carlton chief executive, Graham Wright, said.
“Since last year, virtually every senior leadership position has changed. No Carlton person is content with where we are at right now and we must demand better of ourselves.”
It means Voss’s 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.
Blues assistant coach and former Collingwood ruck Josh Fraser has been confirmed as the club’s interim coach, having re-joined the Blues’ staff before 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 on percentage, as they prepare to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Premiership coaches John Longmire and Adam Simpson were both flagged as potential replacements at Carlton when Voss was in trouble last year.
But the club decided to back Voss into the final year of his contract, despite losing key players Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni during the trade period.
Voss could end up back in the media, having served as a commentator for two years after he retired from playing in 2006.
