Princes Park => Robert Heatley Stand => Topic started by: madbluboy on February 06, 2026, 09:53:57 am
Poll
Question: Where will we finish?
Option 1: 1-3
Option 2: 4-6
Option 3: 7-9
Option 4: 10-12
Option 5: 13-15
Option 6: 16-18
Title: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: madbluboy on February 06, 2026, 09:53:57 am
Well?
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: PaulP on February 06, 2026, 09:58:01 am
I picked 7-9, which is what I have picked for several years. These types of guesses are driven more by personality, temperament, biases etc. than anything else. Even if we won the flag in 2025 I'd still pick that range.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Thryleon on February 06, 2026, 10:07:37 am
My range is way bigger than this, so Im going to pick something silly.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 10:30:34 am
I've gone for the 10-12 option...but I'm thinking more in terms of around 8 to12 mark.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: PaulP on February 06, 2026, 10:43:05 am
Best way to look at that is who will be worse than us?
From the bottom 3 last year... Both Tigers and North are predicted to rise. Eagles, less so.
Who will drop?
Melbourne seem to be on the slide as much as us. Maybe Essendon, but i'm sure they think they are top 4.
Definitely possible. More possible than most will admit.
Missing finals will be the end of Vossy.
You might be right but it’s back to the ol merry go round isn’t it ? Given the instability is it “right” to judge Voss on finals…? I’d say not but I’m not loud and vocal.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 01:46:25 pm
You might be right but it’s back to the ol merry go round isn’t it ? Given the instability is it “right” to judge Voss on finals…? I’d say not but I’m not loud and vocal.
One hopes that if it gets to that point, then Davies, Wright et al are able to correctly identify the issues, able to identify if there are deficiencies in Voss' coaching, and are able to determine whether those issues are rectifiable in a sensible time frame, or whether they're not. Not just capitulation to external pressures, change for change's sake etc. The club has for too long worn the "impatient" label like a badge of honor, and not the delusional, revisionist nonsense that it really is.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 02:22:57 pm
I think it's important to remember that were the results to go poorly next year that we wouldn't be 'sacking' Voss. We just wouldn't be extending his contract. It's a subtle difference. But it plays into the narrative that we "honoured the contract" until the end.
Now if we are to extend him, it's doubtful it would be for just a single year. Because that shows little faith in the coach. It would need to be a multi-year deal.
So from that point of view our finishing position is important for Voss's future. A bottom four finish would have him at long odds to be re-contracted. It get's harder for the club to let him go the higher the ladder finishing postion.
There is an unknown factor here. Has someone been spoken to about the position for 2027 and said, yes, but they need a year off in 2026, or stated that they will wait to make decision when the position becomes vacant,
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on February 06, 2026, 02:27:49 pm
10-12 Finish in 2026 Voss not recontracted. Simpson the new coach, who then leads us to the bottom four and another rebuild from the ground up before he is sacked after two years and gets another McDonalds franchise with the payout.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: shawny on February 06, 2026, 02:45:08 pm
13th -15th i picked but i think the lower end of that scale as long as we get an ok run with injuries.
For example lose the likes of both Harry and Weiters for an extended period and apart from WC i cant see us beating anyone
Reckon Port, Melb and St kilda will all jump over us this year while Richmond and North will be closer to us as well - remembering both those 2 bottom teams beat us last year when our side was on paper stronger and both their lists are still young and building so both of their natural improvement will make beating them harder this year.
Voss will quit by mid season - nothing surer. Pressure will be too much with the wins column going backwards again from last year - Horse will be the new messiah. Lock it in
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: cookie2 on February 06, 2026, 03:32:32 pm
Not clear to me yet where we’re likely to end up as l’m not clear on exactly what was at the root of our problems last year and whether or not we’ve effectively addressed them. I’m running on hope for this year that we could make finals. We’ll get a better idea soon enough.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: PaulP on February 06, 2026, 03:44:54 pm
I think it's also worth mentioning that the off field appointments outside the coach can make a real difference. I don't wish to start another Neil Balme discussion (we've had plenty of those), merely to point out that we can see in cases like Richmond and Adelaide, sometimes these types can give a nudge in the right direction that make a big difference. Hopefully Wright or Davies (or both) can fulfill that Balme-type role for us.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 04:05:27 pm
Best way to look at that is who will be worse than us?
From the bottom 3 last year... Both Tigers and North are predicted to rise. Eagles, less so.
Who will drop?
Melbourne seem to be on the slide as much as us. Maybe Essendon, but i'm sure they think they are top 4.
Definitely possible. More possible than most will admit.
Missing finals will be the end of Vossy.
Quite possibly....and thats probably unfair since he lost a lot of talent in the offseason.
But, no point saving him if we haven't got a better coach to replace him.
Based on our previous coaching appointments, I'm not sure 'who' or more accurately, 'what' type we would be targetting. We've had the favourite son. We've had the messiah. We've had the young up and comer. We've had the players favourite. We've had the redemption after an extended apprenticeship.
Whats left?
Playing coach?? Get Daisy Pearce or Erin Phillips???
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: PaulP on February 06, 2026, 04:15:12 pm
I think we've been caught napping by being too coach-centric, which in itself is old school thinking.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 04:49:43 pm
I'll preface this by saying I think we'll improve our ladder position next year and I think as a result Voss may be offered a new contract.
The reality though is that if we were to say finish bottom 4 how could the club possibly justify re-contracting him.
You can get away with one year, and a shocking run with injuries. You can probably get away with a second year of injuries and turmoil. I'm not sure you get away with a third year, especially if the bottom drops out of the place.
Yes, we've lost key players but as has been pointed out often, their 2025 seasons all presented with issues that saw them at less than their best.
Curnow's departure has been seen as due in part to his injury situation being mis-managed, and being forced to play against better judgement. Who is responsible for that? What was the issue with Silvagni. Was he fully on-board with the club's on-field direction. Kennedy's departure the year before has been attributed to a conflict of sorts with Voss. The overall tone of the place last year, seemed to be a team with divisions. And while not totally responsible, the coach surely has some impact on team unity and getting everyone on the same page.
It's pretty apparent that Voss may not be everyone's cup of tea. The hope is that the players reamaining do have a bit of respect for his approach, and understanding of the direction Voss has for 2026, and we see good, consistent efforts. Even a mid-table finish may be enough if there is enough positivity, and improvement in many players. But if it goes pear shaped (bottom 4) the ending will be pretty predictable...and pretty much the right one.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 04:57:31 pm
@Lods... To paraphrase Malthouse - The 22 blokes in the team love you. The 23rd bloke hates you.
Every coach has its detractors. IF that has anything to do with the reason any of them left.....maybe Kennedy aside.....but maybe we needed to mix it up and he was 4th banana.....and oldest behind Cripps.
So i wouldn't put too much stock in 'the coach has lost the players' cliche.
Plenty of other players could've left, but haven't.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: northernblue on February 06, 2026, 05:23:15 pm
@Lods So we judge Voss on a year with a fractured group and injuries and then a year without the fractured individuals (hopefully they’re all gone…) and lesser credentialed replacements ? Seems like old Carlton to me…
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 05:25:57 pm
@Lods... To paraphrase Malthouse - The 22 blokes in the team love you. The 23rd bloke hates you.
Every coach has its detractors. IF that has anything to do with the reason any of them left.....maybe Kennedy aside.....but maybe we needed to mix it up and he was 4th banana.....and oldest behind Cripps.
So i wouldn't put too much stock in 'the coach has lost the players' cliche.
Plenty of other players could've left, but haven't.
I never said the coach has lost the players. I'm not sure where you got that from. All the noise at the moment is of a committed group with some new players fitting in very well. I expect a good year, from both players and coach....but the old "proof of the pudding" cliche still applies.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 05:38:15 pm
@Lods So we judge Voss on a year with a fractured group and injuries and then a year without the fractured individuals (hopefully they’re all gone…) and lesser credentialed replacements ? Seems like old Carlton to me…
No Actually the opposite. 'Old Carlton' would have seen him gone this year. He's now had two years where injury and disruption have affected our performance. But he doesn't want the bottom to fall out of it this year. What I'm saying is, he probably won't get a new contract if we finish bottom 4 this year, That's not old Carlton That's just what will happen.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 05:53:36 pm
@Lods... To paraphrase Malthouse - The 22 blokes in the team love you. The 23rd bloke hates you.
Every coach has its detractors. IF that has anything to do with the reason any of them left.....maybe Kennedy aside.....but maybe we needed to mix it up and he was 4th banana.....and oldest behind Cripps.
So i wouldn't put too much stock in 'the coach has lost the players' cliche.
Plenty of other players could've left, but haven't.
I never said the coach has lost the players. I'm not sure where you got that from. All the noise at the moment is of a committed group with some new players fitting in very well. I expect a good year, from both players and coach....but the old "proof of the pudding" cliche still applies.
I was being pre-emptive. You haven't said it yet......but there will be a time where it becomes gospel (not necessarily from you).
re Orange....thats the downfall right there.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 05:55:32 pm
@Lods So we judge Voss on a year with a fractured group and injuries and then a year without the fractured individuals (hopefully they’re all gone…) and lesser credentialed replacements ? Seems like old Carlton to me…
No Actually the opposite. 'Old Carlton' would have seen him gone this year. He's now had two years where injury and disruption have affected our performance. But he doesn't want the bottom to fall out of it this year. What I'm saying is, he probably won't get a new contract if we finish bottom 4 this year, That's not old Carlton That's just what will happen.
If we kept him this year, there is no reason why we shouldn't keep him next year, even if we drop a couple places on the ladder. Talent available last year > talent available this year......and spare me the 'output' of Curnow etc. excuse. This year it will be some other player that underperfoms.....there always is.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 06:01:04 pm
If we kept him this year, there is no reason why we shouldn't keep him next year, even if we drop a couple places on the ladder. Talent available last year > talent available this year......and spare me the 'output' of Curnow etc. excuse. This year it will be some other player that underperfoms.....there always is.
So what type of contract do you expect him to be offered if we finish bottom 4? Don't forget, it's a new contract.
I expect us to do well and he will get a new contract. Bottom 4 and he won't.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Baggers on February 06, 2026, 06:03:26 pm
No idea where we'll end up on the ladder in 2026. Vossy's tenure is in his, the players and other coaches hands.
Just keen to see how we start 2026. Woo hoo. Go Blues.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 06:25:28 pm
If we kept him this year, there is no reason why we shouldn't keep him next year, even if we drop a couple places on the ladder. Talent available last year > talent available this year......and spare me the 'output' of Curnow etc. excuse. This year it will be some other player that underperfoms.....there always is.
So what type of contract do you expect him to be offered if we finish bottom 4? Don't forget, it's a new contract.
I expect us to do well and he will get a new contract. Bottom 4 and he won't.
I'd just give him 1 year.
...and you're being a bit cheeky by saying bottom 4. I said drop a couple places, 13th is a couple places, 15th is bottom 4. Even then....what have we got to gain by giving him the flick at the end of the year with a sub-par list?
Nobody else is going to pry him away from us. He won't walk out.
He'd back himself in to get better after we have another year of development into our green shoots and hopefully a better off-season talent wise. So why offer anything else?
This is where i differ from most and where i'm misunderstood.
I expect us to drop this year and I am ok with that. I expect us to rise if not the next year, the year after that. People see that as me being negative.....quite the opposite. I'm giving him a grace period and allowing him time to turn it around because i think we're making him coach with 1 arm behind his back this year as the talent isn't there. Last year he got a pass because the talent was injured. This year he'll likely get the flick because the talent is wearing different colours, and that doesn't make sense to me.
Keep him. Get a year into Dean. Get a year into Jagga. Get an extra year into Cowan, Hollands (x2?) Carroll, Campo (x2) and O'keefe. Allow time for incoming players like Florent, Hayward, Ainsworth, Reidy and others like Kemp, O'Farrell to find their feet. Then inject Walker and whoever else we may find.
THEN we will start to rise......but not this year. Too green. Too many changes. Too many holes papered over that can bring down the house of cards too easily.
So be patient, assume this year is a development / write off year and prepare for 2027. With that mindset, the club will be in a better position as supporters won't be reaching for pitchforks after R2 because they EXPECT to do better.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: PaulP on February 06, 2026, 06:41:44 pm
So what type of contract do you expect him to be offered if we finish bottom 4? Don't forget, it's a new contract.
I expect us to do well and he will get a new contract. Bottom 4 and he won't.
Matthew Nicks has a worse coaching record than Voss. The Crows have been more successful than us in the last 25 years by a fair margin, and one reason for that is that they don't panic and make knee jerk decisions on the coach. Nicks has not done much to date, but in amongst whatever other changes they made, they brought in Balme in early 2025 and then finished first after finishing 15th in 2024.
I hope the club doesn't just think sacking the coach is the default answer when things go pear shaped. I don't think it's right that a bottom 4 finish means another sacking. The club must be able to figure out what's what.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 07:08:10 pm
So what type of contract do you expect him to be offered if we finish bottom 4? Don't forget, it's a new contract.
I expect us to do well and he will get a new contract. Bottom 4 and he won't.
I'd just give him 1 year.
...and you're being a bit cheeky by saying bottom 4. I said drop a couple places, 13th is a couple places, 15th is bottom 4.
No You're the one changing the goal posts there. I've been arguing all day based around MBB's prediction of a bottom 4 finish.
That's the basis of what I've written. You've come late to the argument.
Giving him one year after a bottom 4 finish is not realistic. Around 13 he may be a chance, but even then a slim one.
One thing we do agree on is that 2027 will be a year where we will be better, but we're bouncing from different starting points. I have us a few places ahead of you this year. And I expect Voss to be the coach.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 07:24:36 pm
...and you're being a bit cheeky by saying bottom 4. I said drop a couple places, 13th is a couple places, 15th is bottom 4.
No You're the one changing the goal posts there. I've been arguing all day based around MBB's prediction of a bottom 4 finish.
That's the basis of what I've written. You've come late to the argument.
Giving him one year after a bottom 4 finish is not realistic. Around 13 he may be a chance, but even then a slim one.
One thing we do agree on is that 2027 will be a year where we will be better, but we're bouncing from different starting points. I have us a few places ahead of you this year. And I expect Voss to be the coach.
You literally quoted me in a post where i said 'drop a couple' positions....so thats what i was responding too.
It doesn't matter.
Giving him a 1 year deal if we finish bottom 4 is not realistic.....in your eyes. I, and some others, will disagree.
If i was the one who was making the call, i'd come out and give him a year now and say that.... "Whilst we will not be putting a ceiling on this year, we are mindful of some big changes in the off-season. This year will be a year of transition and with a bit of luck, the transition will be completed before Round 1, but more than likely some further time will be required. We are not conceding anything, but we are also mindful that unrealistic expectations can lead to unneccesary knee jerk reactions. Its for this reason that we want Vossy to develop this team for sustained success and not have to worry about if he has a job each week"
Puts it all out there. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 07:36:56 pm
No You're the one changing the goal posts there. I've been arguing all day based around MBB's prediction of a bottom 4 finish.
That's the basis of what I've written. You've come late to the argument.
Giving him one year after a bottom 4 finish is not realistic. Around 13 he may be a chance, but even then a slim one.
One thing we do agree on is that 2027 will be a year where we will be better, but we're bouncing from different starting points. I have us a few places ahead of you this year. And I expect Voss to be the coach.
You literally quoted me in a post where i said 'drop a couple' positions....so thats what i was responding too.
It doesn't matter.
Giving him a 1 year deal if we finish bottom 4 is not realistic.....in your eyes. I, and some others, will disagree.
If i was the one who was making the call, i'd come out and give him a year now and say that.... "Whilst we will not be a ceiling on this year, we are mindful of some big changes in the off-season. This year will be a year of transition and with a bit of luck, the transition will be completed before Round 1, but more than likely some further time will be required. We are not conceding anything, but we are also mindful that unrealistic expectations can lead to unneccesary knee jerk reactions. Its for this reason that we want Vossy to develop this team for sustained success and not have to worry about if he has a job each week"
Puts it all out there. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
I actually think that's a better idea. Give him the two years now. And emphasise the tranistional nature of this year....because I think even the most optimistic of us don't see us going deep into the finals. Improving yes, but not dramtically.
If we do go really low on the ladder that extra year becomes a much harder sell at the end of the year.
The two problems I see are - we're getting some really positive messages out of the club, rather than dampening expectaions they're raising them. - have we already sounded someone out for 2027 and are keeping our powder dry to see what eventuates. (the club isn't seen to be sacking a coach prior to contract end, but has someone lined up once Voss's contract finishes.)
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 06, 2026, 07:43:38 pm
You literally quoted me in a post where i said 'drop a couple' positions....so thats what i was responding too.
It doesn't matter.
Giving him a 1 year deal if we finish bottom 4 is not realistic.....in your eyes. I, and some others, will disagree.
If i was the one who was making the call, i'd come out and give him a year now and say that.... "Whilst we will not be a ceiling on this year, we are mindful of some big changes in the off-season. This year will be a year of transition and with a bit of luck, the transition will be completed before Round 1, but more than likely some further time will be required. We are not conceding anything, but we are also mindful that unrealistic expectations can lead to unneccesary knee jerk reactions. Its for this reason that we want Vossy to develop this team for sustained success and not have to worry about if he has a job each week"
Puts it all out there. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
I actually think that's a better idea. Give him the two years now. And emphasise the tranistional nature of this year....because I think even the most optimistic of us don't see us going deep into the finals. Improving yes, but not dramtically.
If we do go really low on the ladder that extra year becomes a much harder sell at the end of the year.
The two problems I see are - we're getting some really positive messages out of the club, rather than dampening expectaions they're raising them. - have we already sounded someone out for 2027 and are keeping our powder dry to see what eventuates. (the club isn't seen to be sacking a coach prior to contract end, but has someone lined up once Voss's contract finishes.)
He is contracted for 2026 already, i am suggesting adding 2027 now.
Are you suggesting adding in 2028 also??
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Professer E on February 06, 2026, 07:45:11 pm
Ive got zero predictive capability but I have a hunch we'll finish above the sniffers and Toss will be under a LOT of pressure as a result.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Lods on February 06, 2026, 08:40:10 pm
I actually think that's a better idea. Give him the two years now. And emphasise the tranistional nature of this year....because I think even the most optimistic of us don't see us going deep into the finals. Improving yes, but not dramtically.
If we do go really low on the ladder that extra year becomes a much harder sell at the end of the year.
The two problems I see are - we're getting some really positive messages out of the club, rather than dampening expectaions they're raising them. - have we already sounded someone out for 2027 and are keeping our powder dry to see what eventuates. (the club isn't seen to be sacking a coach prior to contract end, but has someone lined up once Voss's contract finishes.)
He is contracted for 2026 already, i am suggesting adding 2027 now.
Are you suggesting adding in 2028 also??
No I'm agreeing with you. Just the extra year -2027 A one year extension, but don't wait to do it. If we wait to do it 2026 results become a factor.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Thryleon on February 06, 2026, 10:08:29 pm
I went 4 to 6.
If you can dream, then dream out loud.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: northernblue on February 07, 2026, 12:02:52 am
I actually think that's a better idea. Give him the two years now. And emphasise the tranistional nature of this year....because I think even the most optimistic of us don't see us going deep into the finals. Improving yes, but not dramtically.
If we do go really low on the ladder that extra year becomes a much harder sell at the end of the year.
The two problems I see are - we're getting some really positive messages out of the club, rather than dampening expectaions they're raising them. - have we already sounded someone out for 2027 and are keeping our powder dry to see what eventuates. (the club isn't seen to be sacking a coach prior to contract end, but has someone lined up once Voss's contract finishes.)
He is contracted for 2026 already, i am suggesting adding 2027 now.
Are you suggesting adding in 2028 also??
Unless they think we can do well in our first 4-8 games and want to make an announcement then…? Be smarter to do it now.
I can sorta understand but don’t agree with the decision to allow Voss to coach into 26 but I think tactically they’ve missed the chance to make this 12 month extension. Maybe if Davies was on board earlier it may have happened this way Krudds.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: kruddler on February 07, 2026, 07:21:37 am
He is contracted for 2026 already, i am suggesting adding 2027 now.
Are you suggesting adding in 2028 also??
Unless they think we can do well in our first 4-8 games and want to make an announcement then…? Be smarter to do it now.
I can sorta understand but don’t agree with the decision to allow Voss to coach into 26 but I think tactically they’ve missed the chance to make this 12 month extension. Maybe if Davies was on board earlier it may have happened this way Krudds.
I was fine with voss getting the right to coach or his contract. Either way, once we showed him to stay and we cut the list the way we did, the only fair thing to do is give him the extra year. The expectations from supporters and media alike will fixate on his contract to the detriment of the club. So contract him and get that our of the equation.
I don't expect results to be favourable early on, so dint risk it. Sign him now.
This sound also help with talent aquisition as the unknown about who will coach is removed.
Title: Re: Where will Carlton finish?
Post by: Baggers on February 07, 2026, 08:13:21 am
Unless they think we can do well in our first 4-8 games and want to make an announcement then…? Be smarter to do it now.
I can sorta understand but don’t agree with the decision to allow Voss to coach into 26 but I think tactically they’ve missed the chance to make this 12 month extension. Maybe if Davies was on board earlier it may have happened this way Krudds.
I was fine with voss getting the right to coach or his contract. Either way, once we showed him to stay and we cut the list the way we did, the only fair thing to do is give him the extra year. The expectations from supporters and media alike will fixate on his contract to the detriment of the club. So contract him and get that our of the equation.
I don't expect results to be favourable early on, so dint risk it. Sign him now.
This sound also help with talent aquisition as the unknown about who will coach is removed.
Coaching extensions are given on positive performance and good results, not hope, whims and goodwill. Extensions are a deserved reward.
At the JNM Vossy -- testament to his character -- admitted he'd failed the club in 2025. To the club's credit, they stuck with him into 2026 - definitely NOT old Carlton. He's been given the opportunity to SHOW he can do much better. So, any talk of contract extensions should be on hold until he proves he can do just that.