THE Carlton Football Club has today further solidified the stability and strength of its leadership, announcing that CEO Brian Cook and AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss will continue to lead the Blues beyond 2024. 

Cook, widely regarded as arguably one of Australia’s best sporting administrators, has committed to continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer until at least the end of 2025, while Voss has re-signed as the Club’s AFL Senior Coach for a further two seasons, taking him to at least the end of the 2026 season.

It is yet another significant show of unity at IKON Park, with two of the football club’s most senior figures collectively pledging their commitment to the Blues on the eve of the 2024 AFL season.

This follows last week’s announcement of the Club’s four-player AFL leadership group, as well as President Luke Sayers’ pledge to seek an extension of his Term of Office by a further 12 months.

The commitments of Cook and Voss add another layer of sound leadership that has become a hallmark of the Blues, since the pair’s arrival at IKON Park two years ago.

During this time the Carlton faithful have elevated the club with a united energy and strong connection, culminating in 2023 which saw the Club produce an average home crowd of 51,421 – selling out 11 of its 26 games last year – and with 81,803 members already signing up in 2024.

Cook has brought immeasurable experience, stability and values-based leadership to the Carlton Football Club.

His leadership philosophy is central to Carlton’s identity, underpinned by Humility, Respect, Unity, Integrity, Relentlessness and Excellence.

With the Club now entering the third year of its five-year strategic plan, Cook will be central to the delivery of the Blues’ off-field strategic objectives, while continuing to have clear oversight and providing strong support to the football department.

In Voss’ first two years at the helm, the Blues set about surpassing significant milestones of progression.

The 2022 campaign saw the Club achieve its most wins in a season since 2011, off the back of an 8-2 record, its best start to a season since 1995.

That was backed up in 2023 by a home-and-away finish of fifth, the Club’s highest since 2011, resulting in a return to finals football for the first time in 10 years.

A September soon followed that included back-to-back finals victories for the first time since 1999 and the Club’s first preliminary final appearance since 2000.

Over this period the side’s game-style has continued to evolve, with the motivation to stand up on the biggest stage and against the competition’s best. Along with its two finals wins last year, the Blues also defeated six of the other seven 2023 AFL finalists.

Carlton President Luke Sayers outlined not only the progression that had been made under Cook and Voss’ leadership but the identity of the Club that has been established, which both the CEO and AFL Senior Coach have been pivotal in creating.

“The Carlton Football Club has never been more united in who we are and what we stand for, Brian and Michael have been pivotal in establishing that,” Sayers said.

“It is not too much to say that two years ago our football club needed to rebuild its identity, fast forward to now and Carlton has a genuine strength in numbers, our vision never clearer and our hunger to earn success greater than ever.

“Brian has brought clarity to Carlton from day one, he is genuine in his relationships across all areas of the football club, and deeply cares for and understands that our people are central to what makes Carlton – as well as having incredible business acumen which has our club well on its way to sustainable, off-field success.

“Michael Voss is made to coach the Carlton Football Club – a coach of great intellect, who inspires those around him and every Carlton person to not just hope, but believe in what is possible if we remain committed and true to who we are, together.

“Great organisations are built around the quality of their people and they do not come any better than our CEO and AFL Senior Coach, we are delighted Brian and Michael will continue to lead us beyond 2024.”

Cook said the focus of the next 18 months would be on ensuring the Club strived for the continual improvements it needed across all areas.

“We are proud of the progression we have made since the end of 2022 but we are not done yet, there is still significant work to do,” Cook said.

“To see how willing our people are to embrace that hard work, not just our players and coaches, but our staff in the football department and entire administration – that really inspires me and should give our members and supporters pride in knowing that while there are no guarantees, the Carlton Football Club is full of people who are working tirelessly to put us in a position to succeed.

“Our strategic plan is now reaching the next phase of its evolution. I look forward to working with our executive team and all our staff, to continue to progress our club forward and I thank our Board also for the support they have continued to provide."

Voss said he looked forward to this football club continuing to earn respect over the coming years.

“We want to restore pride in members, fans, staff, everybody, to wear our monogram again. The connection this football club has with its people is unlike anything I have ever experienced across the four decades I have been part of this game,” Voss said.

“To experience that on a daily basis is a privilege. Whether that is walking into the Club, speaking with our members and supporters in the street or the countless messages of support I am lucky to get.

“As Carlton people we have all grown together in the last two years, we are building this the right way but also know we are only at the start of where we ultimately want to go.

“While we have taken significant steps forward in our progression as a club, our ambitions remain ahead of us. We’ve taken nothing for granted in our journey so far together – we’ll stay humble and continue to get after it, because we know that we have to go to another level.”