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Carlton coach Michael Voss has declared his coaching future was the least of his concerns while foreshadowing a push to youth in the run home as the Blues aim to salvage something out their troubled season.
In his first public appearance since club president Robert Priestley pledged no decision would be made on the coach until after the campaign, Voss laid down his aims for the remainder of the year, saying the season was still live.
Carlton coach Michael Voss watches on during a training session.Credit: Getty Images
The spotlight will again be on the beleaguered Blues this week when they tackle premiership favourite Collingwood in front of a likely crowd of 70,000-plus and a prime-time national TV audience.
Though finals are all but out of reach, the pressure will be on the Blues to turn in an improved performance after horror losses to North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, which have placed Voss’ future on the agenda.
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The club had its walls sprayed with graffiti calling for the sacking of the board, football boss Brad Lloyd and list manager Nick Austin, but the retention of Voss in the hours after the loss to the Power.
The Blues announced earlier in the week they had brought forward Graham Wright’s start date as chief executive, paving the way for him to make key calls on the future of the football department.
“I think what we’ve always been is pretty aligned with where we need to go,” Voss said.
“It’s probably the least of the things that I’m thinking about at the moment. It’s more about probably the care for our people and we’ve got a job to do and it’s been fairly eyes in. I also know that that sort of connection and alignment will help us.”
The Blues are expected to turn to youth and will make at least three changes to the side that was blown apart by Port last week.
Defender Jordan Boyd was not at the Blues’ captain’s run on Thursday, along with injured backmen Jack Silvagni and Adam Saad.
Young Blue Lachie Cowan could be recalled.Credit: Getty Images
Defender Lachie Cowan, 20, and teenagers Harry O’Farrell and Matt Carroll are poised for recalls, while second-season forward Ashton Moir is also pushing hard for a senior game.
Their inclusions would freshen up a 23 that was the oldest team the Blues have fielded since 1944.
“For us, it’s now we get on with business and it’s about performance and how we start to turn the form on the field around,” Voss said.
“And there’s exciting things to look forward to. We’ve got some youth that that will be playing. Some big games over the last seven, eight weeks of the season. We want to energise that.
“What’s really important to us is that we connect into our supporters. They are very important to us.
“We understand that there’s a there’s a style of football that we want to play that they can be proud of and we can be proud of and that they can connect to and we’re all in this together.”
Voss said there was still plenty for the Blues to play for in the final eight rounds of the season.
“I think it’s to be stated that for us this season’s live, there’s a lot to get out of this year,” Voss said. “There’s nothing parked here. There’s nothing to say, there’s nothing to protect. And we’re going after it.”
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