Carlton Coach Michael Voss Forges Unexpected Bond with Teenager He Arrested
In a remarkable turn of events, Carlton AFL coach Michael Voss has developed an unlikely relationship with the teenager he made a citizen's arrest on in August 2024. The incident, which captured national headlines 18 months ago, occurred outside a local cafe in Hawthorn, where Voss was waiting for a coffee at Barton Milk Bar.
At the time, a stolen car flipped onto the footpath nearby, and two individuals attempted to flee on foot. Voss chased them down and performed a citizen's arrest before police arrived. Now, a year and a half later, Voss remains in contact with the troubled youth, as he revealed in a recent interview on the Dyl and Friends podcast.
An Unexpected Connection Forms
Voss described how the incident led to an unexpected connection. "What it did actually do was hook up an unexpected connection," Voss said. He was contacted by a mentor assigned to the 16-year-old, who sent an email requesting a meeting. Voss agreed, thinking, "Yeah, why not?"
He explained his motivation: "He's obviously a 16-year-old young man that's trying to find his way and did the wrong thing, and I thought I'd really love to hear his version of events." Voss enjoyed learning about the teenager's story and background, though he chose not to disclose specific details.
Voss expressed hope that their interactions provided some motivation for the youth to pursue positive changes in his life. "Hopefully there were some things that gave him a little bit of motivation to follow through on a few things that he's been able to do. I'm hoping that goes in the direction that he wants in his life," he said. He noted the outreach was unexpected, and they likely did not anticipate a response.
Mentoring Principles Align with Coaching Philosophy
Now 50 years old and entering his fourth year as Carlton coach, Voss drew parallels between mentoring the young man and his coaching philosophy. "What we do as AFL coaches, really, at the end of the day, we mentor young men, we mentor young people," he stated.
He elaborated on what drives him in coaching: "And I think what I love the most out of coaching is just being able to see people get what they want — that magic moment when you have that realisation and someone finally gets it; they haven't got it for a while but then they learn a craft. That's what lights me up, to be able to see that."
Voss emphasized that while club coaching is rewarding, he finds fulfillment in small personal victories. "So I feel like that whole club coaching is great, but I look for those little wins in people that just makes you feel a little bit special about why you're actually doing what you're doing."
This story highlights how a chance encounter during a criminal incident has evolved into a mentoring relationship, showcasing Voss's commitment to guiding young individuals both on and off the field.
