AFL world showers Michael Voss with support after former Carlton coach's sad admission

Former Carlton coach Michael Voss has been praised around the AFL world after a candid admission about his coaching future on Thursday night. Voss conceded it had been "difficult" not being able to share in the Blues' stunning five-game winning streak, but insisted he had no appetite to return to a head coaching role, having parted ways with Carlton in May after four and a half seasons in charge.

The Blues were 1-8 when Voss stepped away, but have since gone on to win five consecutive games under interim coach Josh Fraser to climb into 10th on the ladder and reignite their finals chances. And while Voss says he's delighted to see the resurgence from his former players, he's found it tough not being able to celebrate the success alongside the team.

Voss returned to the TV screens on Thursday night for Fox Footy's coverage of the Brisbane Lions' big win over the Sydney Swans. And in a classy segment at half-time, the 50-year-old opened up about the mixed emotions he’d experienced watching a vastly improved Carlton side that he played a major role in shaping.

“It’s been different, because as a coach, when you step away mid-season you’re still almost emotionally involved without being there. And having zero control over what’s actually happening,” he said. “But it was encouraging to see the response and what they did in the first week... but then for the confidence to build the way it has over the last four weeks has been really impressive.

“Because I think every time that we’ve actually seen them play week-on-week, they’ve improved something in their game... So it’s difficult to see a team evolve as they have, when you feel like you’ve had some influence over it but then you’re not there to share in the spoils."

But after head coaching stints at Carlton and Brisbane before that, plus an assistant role with Port Adelaide, Voss is adamant he has no appetite to return to the coaching ranks. “No, I don’t have one," he said. “Now there’s another journey ahead. I don’t know what that is, but I’ll spend the night here with you lot (at Fox Footy) and then see where it goes.”

Voss says Carlton’s resurgence under Fraser should put him firmly in contention for Carlton's head coaching job, despite ruling himself out when he initially took over as interim. Carlton CEO Graham Wright, football boss Chris Davies and Blues president Rob Priestley have been joined by former West Coast mentor Adam Simpson on a panel tasked with choosing the club’s next senior coach.