Michael Voss is now considered to be the favourite for the Carlton senior coaching job, per Fox Sports.
The Port Adelaide assistant is reportedly the preferred option of the Carlton coaching search sub-committee, edging out Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa and Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley.
It is believed that baring a last-ditch effort to get Alastair Clarkson, the Blues will likely appoint Voss in the position. The club is also likely to hear back from Clarkson by the end of the week.
Unless the four-time premiership coach backflips, Voss could be made coach before Saturday's Grand Final.
While all reports are appearing to favour Voss, none of the parties have been informed of their fate. Fox Footy's Tom Morris reported that neither Voss nor Kingsley have had formal discussions about their outcome with the Blues. This could be either due to the 'Clarko factor' or that the Blues are still assessing their options.
MORRIS: Michael Voss hasn't been told he is the coach and Adam Kingsley hasn't been told he is not the coach. There were reports Michael Voss was in Melbourne but that's not right. He will only be jumping on a plane to accept the position
— Bobโ๏ธ and Andy (@BobandAndySEN) September 20, 2021
While previously declaring himself out of the position, Carlton is attempting to make one final offer to the Hawthorn coaching legend. Clarko's manager James Henderson has rejected rumours about his client's 'change of heart'. The former Hawthorn coach is reportedly taking the year off footy to spend time with family and travel.
With the recent signing of chief executive Brian Cook, the Blues haven't written off the chance of signing Clarkson. President Luke Sayers even declared the Blues a 'destination club' in a post to Twitter after they signed the highly-regarded Brian Cook.
The decision would be timely for the Blues, who have nearly completed their off-season leadership overhaul.
After the independent review was finalised, there have been some significant changes to the club.
Carlton will not only be without senior coach David Teague and CEO Cain Liddle for 2022, with the club announcing assistant Cameron Bruce who won't be at the Blues next season.
The Blues publicised the news on Monday, thanking Bruce for his four seasons at the club. Bruce was the last remaining coach from Teague's 2021 coaching panel and departs the club for Brisbane.
โWe thank Cam, his wife Julia, and three children Holly, Ben & Abbey for their contribution to our football club and we wish them the very best in their endeavours up north with the Lions," a club message reads.
"All the best to Cameron the Bruce, who departs the club after four seasons at IKON Park."
โWe thank Cam, his wifeย Juliaย andย threeย childrenย Holly, Ben & Abbeyย for their contribution to our football club and we wish them the very bestย in their endeavours up northย with the Lions.โย
All the best to Cameron the Bruce, who departs the Club after four seasons at IKON Park.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) September 20, 2021
All of Teague's senior assistances have now left the club, with only three coaches remaining at the Blues beyond 2021. According to the Carlton website, onlyย Luke Power (Head of Development), Daniel O'Keefe (Development Coach in Midfield), and Tojin Baker (Development Coach) remain at the club.
Power is a former teammate of Voss' in Brisbane, with the two possibly being reunited if Voss is successful. The Herald Sun also believes that Voss would bring another former teammate in Nigel Lappin to the club.
Earlier today on SEN Breakfast, Tim Watson and Kane Cornes talked about the prospect of Voss taking the reigns at Carlton.
Cornes was excited about the idea of Voss being at the Blues, believing that he could turn the club around as he has "got the aura".
โI think he has done a great amount of work not only coaching but also in the leadership space and every club is about connection now and how you connect with the group and let each other be their own personality, and I think he has done a power of work on that,โ Cornes told Watson on SEN.
โCertainly from a leadership (point of view), from an aura, from when he talks you listen, (and) can command the attention of the room, Iโd love to see him get another opportunity, he will be much better second time round.โ
Watson was similarly optimistic about the idea. He highlighted Voss' ability to connect with the players and foster a positive environment around the club.
โThe intel on Voss is that heโs a very good relationship builder around a football club, he really understands the mechanics of that," Watson said.
Voss started his coaching career in Brisbane, taking over from Leigh Matthews.
From 2009 to 2013, Voss coached 107 games for the Lions and finished with 42 wins, 64 losses and one draw by the end of his tenure.
After coaching the Lions, he was recruited by Port Adelaide as their midfield coach, undertaking that role from 2015-2018. He was then promoted to senior assistant in 2019, where he and the Power have flourished since.
Since becoming the senior assistant, the Power have won 44 of their past 65 matches, winning 68% of games in that span. This also includes making the preliminary finals in the past two seasons.
Voss' start to coaching didn't go as planned, but he cannot be solely blamed for his side's problems. He was tasked with rebuilding the club after dominating the league in the early 2000s. There was also an immense amount of pressure on Voss being a captain and club favourite of the Lions' fans.
Since then he has been able to develop and improve his coaching and is now regarded as one of the most respected senior assistant coaches in the league.
Voss is highly regarded at Port Adelaide, being an integral member of the club's recent success. The Power's GM of football Chris Davies has declared Voss ready for his second opportunity as senior coach.
"Michael continues to do everything he possibly can to grow himself as a coach and a leader amongst his peers,โ Davies told SEN's Dwayne's World.
โHe spends a copious amount of time looking for feedback on the way he goes about things, heโs certainly well aware of what his strengths are."
โHeโs been a great foil for Ken (Hinkley) in talking through issues and as you heard from Ollie (Wines) heโs been a great mentor to a lot of our more senior players who have been around for a period of time now.โ
While he would be sad to see Voss go, Davies understands why the Blues would be pursuing their senior assistant.
โHeโs at the pointy end of the Carlton process and I think heโd be a fantastic senior coach again."
โAs a club, we couldnโt be more supportive of Michael chasing what he wants, which is to be a senior coach again.โ
This is the second time that Voss has applied for the Blues senior coaching position. He previously applied for the role after Brendon Bolton's departure. Voss was left disappointed with the club after the process, feeling like the club hadn't done right by him after hiring Teague.
With the change of board and approach, it appears the club and Voss have since mended their relationship.
His hiring would fit the mould of coaching experience that Carlton are searching for. Voss is primed to succeed in his second head coaching stint with the Blue's list already close to making a successful finals push.
Carlton appears to be in the home stretch, with a decision likely to be announced over the coming week.
