Hard edge Voss in box seat for Blues
BRISBANE legend Michael Voss could be appointed the new coach of Carlton as early as Tuesday after Alastair Clarkson knocked back the Blues for the final time on Monday afternoon.
Port Adelaide senior assistant Voss emerged as the raging favourite over the weekend after a series of impressive Zoom interviews with the Blues coaching subcommittee.
It comes little more than two years after Voss was left disillusioned by a Blues interview process that overlooked him for David Teague.
Clarkson was contacted by new Carlton chief executive Brian Cook over the weekend and made it clear on Monday he did not want to be involved in the Blues coaching process.
He has repeatedly said since parting ways with Hawthorn that he would have a seasonlong sabbatical from football.
Former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott and former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon both declined to take part in the Carlton interview process under football director Greg Williams.
It paves the way for the Blues’ board to ratify Voss’ appointment as early as Monday night.
The Hall of Famer and triple premiership Lions captain, one of footy’s most fearsome midfielders, perfectly marries with Carlton’s desire to drive a harder edge at the club with strong relationships but a more aggressive focus on high performance.
Cook was keen to make contact with Voss this week after his last-ditch bid to change Clarkson’s mind failed.
Clarkson confirmed on Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Monday night that he had been approached by Cook about coaching again in 2022.
“I spoke to Cooky over the weekend and appreciated the call enormously and was respectful of the approach but I am sticking to what I said six or eight weeks ago,” Clarkson said.
“I have only got two gears – flat out or stop and I am not ready to go flat out again.
“My family and I had always looked at the end of next year as time we would make a decision on what we would do.
“Some different circumstances made it unfold this year which meant it pushed its way earlier than anticipated.
“I said to Cooky on the phone, I grew up in an era where I felt like the best footy in the 1970s and early ’80s was the Carltons and Essendons of that period of time. And Collingwood competed too. They were bridesmaids but they competed.
“So I couldn’t respect Carlton and Collingwood more. And the lure to coach those clubs is right sitting there in front of your face.
“Do you want to put your hand up to see if you would be elected to coach those sides?
“But it wasn’t strong enough to overpower my thinking of what my family and I need now and it is a 12 months’ spell.”
Carlton will have almost a completely new coaching panel next season after the club announced that Cameron Bruce was leaving for an assistant coaching role at Brisbane. Teague and assistants John Barker, Dale Amos and Brent Stanton have all left the Blues.