Former Carlton Captain Sam Docherty Urges Club to Hold Firm with Michael Voss
Former Carlton captain Sam Docherty has strongly urged the AFL club to maintain support for coach Michael Voss, who is facing intense scrutiny following a disappointing start to the season. The Blues have stumbled to a 1-3 record, with their latest defeat featuring a dramatic second-half collapse against North Melbourne.
Pressure Mounts After Fourth-Quarter Meltdown
The pressure on Voss escalated significantly after Carlton surrendered a 22-point fourth-quarter lead in their stunning loss to North Melbourne on Friday night. This defeat represents the latest in a series of second-half meltdowns that have plagued the team early in the 2025 AFL season.
Docherty, who retired last year after 184 games with Carlton, spoke out on 3AW radio, emphasizing that making a coaching change at this stage would be premature and potentially damaging. "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," Docherty stated.
Club Hierarchy Backed Voss Last August
The current situation comes after Carlton's leadership backed Voss last August to fulfill the final year of his contract, which runs through 2026. While the club didn't grant him a contract extension, they committed to seeing him through the current season.
Docherty pointed to the significant changes already implemented at the club, including:
- A complete overhaul of assistant coaching staff
- The appointment of a new general manager of football
- Numerous list changes during the off-season
"We're four games into a season and I think it would be a really hasty call to do that," Docherty argued. "I think you've got to let it ride out and see what happens over the next little period and then make the decisions there."
Lessons from Carlton's Coaching History
Docherty brings unique perspective to the discussion, having been at Carlton during the dismissals of three previous senior coaches: Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton, and David Teague. He specifically referenced the Malthouse experience as a cautionary tale.
Malthouse was sacked just eight games into the 2015 season, and Docherty recalled how the initial boost from a caretaker coach quickly faded. "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," he said. "The direction of the club, where you're going, what you're doing was really tough."
Docherty added: "So I think the Blues' hierarchy, whether they listen to me or not, probably not, but I think it would be silly to be making moves this early in the year. You've got to ride it out and there's going to be a lot of pressure on the club, and everyone knows that."
Voss Acknowledges Pressure but Focuses on Football
Voss, now in his fifth season at Carlton, acknowledged after the 14.12 (96) to 13.8 (86) defeat to North Melbourne that external pressure would continue to mount. However, the 50-year-old coach dismissed questions about his future, stating simply: "I'm sure people will have that conversation and they can go for it."
Current Carlton defender Nic Newman came to his coach's defense, describing Voss as an "incredible leader" for the club. "He fronts up like good leaders do," Newman said on 3AW radio. "He was pretty calm and measured about the game and felt like we played some good footy in the third quarter."
Newman acknowledged there were "some moments late" in the game that cost Carlton, though he noted these were different issues than those that plagued the team in previous weeks.
Injury Concerns Ahead of Gather Round Clash
The Blues face additional challenges as they prepare for a crucial Gather Round opener against Adelaide on Thursday night. Vice-captain Jacob Weitering will be unavailable after suffering a concussion in the loss to North Melbourne, further testing Carlton's defensive depth.
As Carlton navigates this difficult period, the club finds itself at a crossroads. With a respected former captain advocating for patience and a current playing group expressing support for their coach, the coming weeks will test the resolve of Carlton's leadership as they determine the best path forward for the historic AFL club.
