No guarantees on Voss future as Blues bring forward new CEO start date

Loading “I wouldn’t call it a review. We are focused on the next eight weeks to put ourselves in the best possible position to then, at the end of the season, go through what all good organisations do, in terms of assessing where they are up to, what gaps they might have, and as a collective working through that and making decisions we need to make in a clam and reasonable way,” Priestley said. Wright was given the top job at Princes Park because, in part, of his strong record as a football department boss at Hawthorn and Collingwood. He attempted to lure Sam Mitchell, then an assistant coach at Hawthorn, to Collingwood, and was the man who eased Nathan Buckley out of the Pies with as much dignity as possible, and replaced him with now premiership coach Craig McRae. “He [Wright] is there to support. We brought Graham in as a football CEO, and that’s what we wanted. We really want to utilise his expertise, his skills, his experience, to work with our footy department at the moment, and support them through the coming weeks,” Priestley said. “We think that [August 15] is the right date. It allows Brian to just finish off a few projects, commitments he has got, and also gives us a really good opportunity for Graham utilising his expertise to really support our footy department at the moment. It’s a really important time for us.”

Irate Blues fans lashed out after the 50-point loss to Port Adelaide last Thursday, including by targeting Carlton’s Ikon Park. Graffiti with the words “sack the board”, “sack Austin, Lloyd”, “keep Voss” and “TDK (star ruckman Tom De Koning, who is considering a whopping offer from the Saints) yes or no” were sprayed on the brick wall at the venue. Time to step up: Carlton coach Michael Voss and player Flynn Young at Melbourne Airport on Friday. Credit: Alex Coppel The graffiti was gone on Monday, but a security officer remained outside the ground. Priestley, chairman of financial services firm JPMorgan Australia and New Zealand, said the season had not gone to plan. “There is no doubt all Carlton people are disappointed in where we are up to. The season hasn’t panned out so far as we would like, there is no doubt about that. We can’t shy away from that,” he said.

“The really important thing is that we are focused on the next eight weeks, and provide all the right support to our footy department, to our playing group, to our coaching group, to really maximise what we can get out of the next eight weeks moving into the off-season.” Silvagni in doubt to face Pies The Blues’ on-field woes have worsened with defender Jack Silvagni in doubt for Friday night’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG. Silvagni is nursing a groin issue, and did not join in training with the main group on Monday. In doubt: Jack Silvagni is nursing a groin issue. Credit: Getty He was restricted to jogging alongside Harry McKay in the rehabilitation group, having been managed late in the Power clash.

Silvagni, an unrestricted free agent, has been nursing the groin issue since he was subbed out of the clash against Sydney in round 10. He missed the following match, before the mid-season bye. Fellow defender Jacob Weitering, nursing an ankle issue, trained strongly, and appears likely to face the Magpies. Weitering was hampered against the Power, with key forward Mitch Georgiades taking full advantage before Weitering was switched off him. The 2024 All-Australian was hurt against North Melbourne a week earlier but played out the game. AFL great Nathan Buckley said on Monday the Blues had been “rudderless” at times this season.

Click here to read article