Coaching desire did not waver

NEW Carlton coach Michael Voss says his dream of again becoming an AFL senior coach never wavered and he has vowed to be a more equipped and better leader eight years after he left Brisbane.

The Australian football Hall of Famer and long-time Port Adelaide assistant coach was unveiled as the Blues’ coach on Thursday.

As he sat between new president Luke Sayers and new chief executive Brian Cook, Voss said he would do everything in his power to lift the club he followed passionately as a kid out of the doldrums.

He won’t shy away from Sayers’ lofty expectation that the Blues can make the finals next year.

“I have been so determined to get there (again as a senior AFL coach),” Voss said. “I probably had to get to a point where that is what I really wanted to do. I stepped back for a year in the media (after Brisbane), but it didn’t take long to convince myself that this is what I wanted to do.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I was very determined to ensure that this is a very successful tenure and that I am more than prepared to put everything out there and give it a red-hot go.”

Voss may not have been the Blues’ first choice to replace David Teague, after Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon ruled themselves out.

But the 46-year-old said he was a far better, more wellrounded coach now than when he was sacked by Brisbane after five seasons in 2013.

“I’ve developed a whole new skill set,’’ he said. “I’ve gone to work really hard around my leadership, around communication, around relationships and bringing people together.”