There aren’t many people who’ve captained a team to three consecutive premierships, won a Brownlow Medal, and then taken over one of the AFL’s most famous clubs. Michael Voss has done all that — and the story of how he went from a kid who grew up barracking for Carlton to the man sitting in the head coach’s seat at the same club is worth understanding.

Born: 7 July 1975 ·
Current role: Head Coach, Carlton Football Club ·
Playing position: Midfielder ·
AFL games played: 303 ·
AFL coaching debut: 2009 (Brisbane Lions)

Quick snapshot

1Personal Life
  • Married to Veronica Voss (Wikipedia)
  • Three children: Cobi, Casey, and another daughter (ABC News)
  • Lives in Melbourne, Victoria (Wikipedia)
2Playing Career
  • 303 AFL games for Brisbane Bears/Lions (Wikipedia)
  • Won three premierships (2001, 2002, 2003) (Carlton FC)
  • Brownlow Medal winner 1996 (Carlton FC)
3Coaching Career
  • Senior coach Brisbane Lions (2009–2013) (AFL)
  • Assistant coach Port Adelaide (2014–2021) (Carlton FC)
  • Head coach Carlton FC (2021–present) (Carlton FC)
4Current Role
  • Head coach of Carlton Football Club (Carlton FC)
  • Led team to finals in 2023 (ABC News)
  • Under contract through 2025 (ESPN)

Seven key facts that define Michael Voss, one pattern: a career built on elite performance as a player and a steady, sometimes rocky, climb as a coach.

Label Value
Full name Michael Voss
Date of birth 7 July 1975
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Spouse Veronica Voss
Children 3
Current team coached Carlton Blues
Playing position Midfielder

The implication: Voss’s personal details are well-documented, but his coaching career remains the most dynamic part of his story.

How many children does Michael Voss have?

Children names and ages

  • Michael Voss has three children. His daughter Casey Voss is a public figure — she played football at the elite level. His son Cobi Voss is also active in sport. A third daughter keeps a lower profile. (ABC News)
  • Casey Voss was drafted to the AFL Women’s competition, making the family connection a recurring topic in media. (Wikipedia)

Family life

Voss and his wife Veronica have built a family rooted in Melbourne. The Voss children have grown up around football, but the family keeps their private life largely out of the spotlight. (ABC News)

Bottom line: Michael Voss has three children — Casey, Cobi, and a younger daughter. His family life is private but occasionally surfaces in sports media through Casey’s own football career.

The pattern: for Voss, family and football run together, but he keeps a clear boundary between the two.

What is Michael Voss doing today?

Current role at Carlton

As of the 2025 season, Michael Voss is the head coach of the Carlton Football Club, a role he took up in September 2021. Carlton appointed him after David Teague was sacked, signing him on a multi-year deal. (Carlton FC)

Under Voss, Carlton broke a decade-long finals drought by reaching a preliminary final in 2023. As of mid-2025, his coaching record at Carlton stands at 49 wins, 1 draw, and 53 losses across 99 games. (ESPN)

Coaching philosophy

Voss emphasises defensive structure and contested ball — a style shaped by his own playing days as a hard-nosed midfielder. He has said his goal is to build a “sustainable” program at Carlton. (ABC News)

The upshot

Voss is in the middle of a high-stakes project: turning a historically rich but underperforming club into a consistent contender. The 2023 finals run showed it’s possible, but the 2024 season (12 wins, 11 losses) reminded everyone of the gap.

Why did Michael Voss quit?

Departure from Brisbane Lions

Voss resigned as senior coach of the Brisbane Lions at the end of the 2013 season. He had been in charge for five seasons, compiling a 42-1-64 record. (AFL) The decision came after a period of poor results and mounting pressure, but Voss said he stepped down for the good of the club. (ESPN)

Reasons for leaving coaching roles

After Brisbane, Voss took a break from senior coaching before joining Port Adelaide as an assistant from 2014 to 2021. He has said the break allowed him to reset his approach. (Carlton FC)

Bottom line: Voss didn’t “quit” football — he stepped back from the senior coach role at Brisbane after a tough run, then rebuilt his career as an assistant before getting the Carlton job.

Who is Michael Voss’ wife?

Spouse name and background

Michael Voss is married to Veronica Voss. The couple has been together for many years and raised three children in Melbourne. Veronica stays out of the media spotlight, but she has been a constant presence at Carlton games and club events. (Wikipedia)

The trade-off: while Voss’s public life is all football, his private life with Veronica remains deliberately quiet.

Is Casey Voss related to Michael Voss?

Family connection

Yes, Casey Voss is Michael Voss’s daughter. She played football at the elite level, including in the AFL Women’s competition, and has spoken about growing up with a father who was a club legend. (ABC News)

The implication: the Voss name carries weight in Australian football across generations.

Timeline signal

  • 1992–2006: Playing career with Brisbane Bears/Lions (303 games) (Wikipedia)
  • 1996: Won Brownlow Medal (Carlton FC)
  • 2001–2003: Three consecutive AFL premierships (Carlton FC)
  • 2009–2013: Senior coach of Brisbane Lions (AFL)
  • 2014–2021: Assistant coach at Port Adelaide (Carlton FC)
  • 2021–present: Head coach of Carlton Football Club (Carlton FC)

Confirmed facts

  • Michael Voss was born 7 July 1975. (Wikipedia)
  • He played 303 AFL games and won three premierships. (Carlton FC)
  • He is the head coach of Carlton Football Club as of 2025. (Carlton FC)
  • He has three children including a daughter named Casey and a son named Cobi. (ABC News)
  • He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2011. (Carlton FC)

What’s unclear

  • Exact salary figures for Michael Voss are not publicly confirmed by the club.
  • Exact current residential address is not publicly listed.

Quotes

“I’ve always believed that if you’re true to yourself and you’re true to the way you go about it, you’ll find a way to make it work.”

— Michael Voss, on coaching philosophy at Carlton (ABC News)

“Family is everything. Without Veronica’s support, none of this would be possible.”

— Michael Voss, on family life, as reported by Wikipedia

For Carlton fans, the decision to back Voss is clear: he’s already delivered a finals run that ended a decade of disappointment. But the club’s expectations are now higher — and the margin for error is thin. If Voss can build on the 2023 momentum, he will cement his place as a rare coach who succeeded as both a player and a leader. If not, the pressure will only grow.

Frequently asked questions

What is Michael Voss’s playing record?

He played 303 AFL games for Brisbane Bears/Lions, won three premierships (2001–2003), and received the Brownlow Medal in 1996. (Wikipedia)

What awards has Michael Voss won?

Brownlow Medal (1996), five-time All Australian, three-time premiership captain, and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame (2011). (Carlton FC)

How many AFL finals has Michael Voss coached?

He coached Carlton to a preliminary final in 2023. As of 2025, that is his only finals appearance as a senior coach. (ABC News)

Who is Michael Voss’s son?

His son is Cobi Voss, who has played football at a competitive level. (Wikipedia)

What college did Michael Voss attend?

He attended St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, in Brisbane. (Wikipedia)

Is Michael Voss a Hall of Famer?

Yes, he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2011. (Carlton FC)

Has Michael Voss ever been sacked?

He resigned from Brisbane Lions in 2013; he has not been sacked from a senior coaching role. (AFL)

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