"YOU DO pinch yourself at times, in certain moments."

Back in the senior coaching chair after an eight-season wait, Michael Voss is finding his start at Carlton to be a surreal experience.

With the extra bonus of coaching the side he grew up supporting before embarking on an Australian Football Hall of Fame career at Brisbane, Voss now finds himself in the centre of football heartland for the first time.

And in the Blues' strong start to the 2022 campaign, Voss isn't taking any of those special moments for granted.

Still getting chills walking out in front of a big crowd, Voss - speaking on Nova's Chrissie, Sam and Browny - said it all started back on that traditional Thursday night in the season-opening round.

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“Obviously Round 1 was the first one where you’ve got [75,000] people in the stands, it was huge," Voss said.

"The history of the Club in terms of where Carlton was at at the time and not winning Round 1, and then you see the response from the crowd and the emotion of the crowd: that was really special.” 

Mindful that there's still plenty of work ahead, Voss has had a fair share to smile about, with his team winning all five of its games in Melbourne so far in front of bumper Navy Blue crowds. 

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"How cool is this?": Voss on 'pinch-yourself' moments as coach

AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss joined Chrissie, Sam and Browny on Nova to discuss his playing days with Jonathan Brown and his experiences with football back in Melbourne.

Carlton currently has the No.1 home attendance average in the League so far, averaging 53,015 attendees over its home games, with no home crowd below 33,000. 

“You do have some of those moments where you go ‘this is amazing’,” he said.  

“Then being able to turn up on Sunday and see the crowd show up in numbers and how vocal and passionate they were, you do pinch yourself.” 

Another of those moments came for Voss less than a fortnight ago, when the Blues made the trip across to Optus Stadium.

In what was Fremantle's annual Len Hall Tribute Game, the chance to stand alongside his players for the pre-match Anzac service is one that stuck out for the AFL Senior Coach.

“There was another moment with Anzac Day,” he said.  

“We were over in Freo and you’re listening to the national anthem, just hearing the roar of the crowd when you’re the coach and you’re standing beside your captain.

“It's just that moment. I’ve looked around and gone ‘how cool is this?’.” 

With another home game coming up this Sunday, there's the chance to add to that groundswell of Navy Blue support which has been bubbling away so far in 2022.

Don't miss out on a special family offer for this weekend's game.