Under-fire Carlton coach Michael Voss is convinced he still has the support of his players and the beleaguered AFL club’s hierarchy.
The Blues’ season plunged to new depths with a 34-point defeat to arch-rivals Essendon on Sunday night, turning up the blowtorch on their second-year coach.
They have now lost six consecutive games – and eight of their last nine – for the first time since the horror run that led to Brendon Bolton’s dismissal as coach four years ago.
“What I’ve always felt from the entire club is support – support for our program and what we’re trying to achieve,” Voss said.
“There are some immediate things that we need to be able to get after and there’s some longer term things that we need to be able to get after as well.”
Speaking on radio before their latest loss, Blues chief executive Brian Cook guaranteed Voss will see out his contract as coach, which runs to the end of 2024.
At the same time, club president Luke Sayers said Carlton were still desperately chasing an end to their decade-long finals drought this year.
But the top-eight is not on Voss’ radar at this stage, with a game against Gold Coast to come before the mid-season bye.
“I’m personally more worried about getting home, looking at the game, reviewing it and getting in Monday or Tuesday really clear on what we need to do next,” Voss said.
“There is a lot of the season left. We’ve got 10 games left.
“There’s a lot to take out of it and we’ll be playing to the last minute.”
Australian Associated Press