Former Carlton captain Sam Docherty has urged the AFL club to stand by coach Michael Voss amid mounting pressure following a poor start to the season. The Blues are 1-3 after surrendering a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in a stunning loss to North Melbourne on Friday.
Docherty, who played 184 games for Carlton and was on the list when coaches Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton and David Teague were sacked, warned against making a hasty decision. “I just don’t think you can make a move on a coach at this time of the year. I think it would be a really poor decision,” he said on 3AW radio.
The former captain recalled the “hell” of the 2015 season when Malthouse was sacked eight games in, saying the initial boost from a caretaker coach fades quickly. “The sugar hit of a caretaker coach has a life-span but I remember by about Round 14 or 15 that year, that year was absolutely hell,” Docherty said.
Blues football boss Chris Davies also backed Voss, guaranteeing he would not be sacked in the coming days. “We are 1-3 and if we are taking any positives from those three losses, it’s that we have been in positions to win those games,” Davies said on 3AW.
Carlton defender Nic Newman described Voss as an “incredible leader” who remains calm and measured. The Blues face Adelaide on Thursday night in Gather Round without vice-captain Jacob Weitering, who was concussed against North Melbourne.
