AFL: Graffiti at Ikon Park sparks outrage as pressure intensifies on Carlton board and coach Michael Voss after 50-point loss

Sky News AU

2 days ago

Carlton's tumultuous AFL season has plunged further into chaos after angry supporters defaced the club's headquarters with graffiti demanding sackings in the wake of a heavy defeat.
Carlton's 2025 campaign lurched into deeper turmoil on Friday morning, as graffiti appeared across the walls of Ikon Park in the wake of a humiliating 50-point defeat to Port Adelaide the night before.
The messages - including 'Sack the Board', 'Sack Austin, Lloyd', 'Keep Voss' and 'TDK yes or no?' - were spray-painted along the outer walls of the Blues' spiritual home at Princes Park.
The graffiti was removed within hours, but not before the images circulated online, fuelling further speculation around the fractured state of the club.
Club officials have confirmed the vandalism is being investigated by Victoria Police, and the clean-up was quickly undertaken by staff on Friday morning.
Despite the graffiti publicly sparing senior coach Michael Voss, suggesting supporters still see value in his leadership, pressure is mounting inside the club - and in the media - about whether he can survive the season.
Former Port Adelaide premiership midfielder Kane Cornes issued a stinging rebuke on SEN Breakfast on Friday morning.
'It was a tough watch if you're a Carlton fan, but Port Adelaide can do this to you,' Cornes said.
'Every now and then they can get themselves up for a performance ... and they did that again last night.
'The last thing Carlton needs to do is sack another coach, but the last thing they needed was a performance like that after the week they had - and this may be the straw that breaks the camel's back."
However, Cornes didn't ignore the questions mounting around Carlton's direction under Voss.
Once known for their relentless pressure and grit, the Blues looked flat and unmotivated - a fact that even their own coach couldn't ignore.
'Even Voss said that they didn't have the effort - and that had been the one saving grace. They didn't look motivated for the fight. They weren't up for the challenge," Cornes said.
'The method has to come down to the coach. The problem for Michael Voss is that he's traditionally had a really strong stoppage team... they've jumped on landmines, they are seriously tough, and their pressure is great - and it's Michael Voss's problem when you lose that.
'I think the situation with Michael Voss now is one they'll assess at the end of the year with core heads, but he looks like a coach in all sorts of trouble.' — Andrew McCormack (@_AMcCormack7) June 26, 2025
Two SEN Breakfast callers took it further, turning their focus directly on Voss.
'Michael Voss needs to put his hand up. You say the list isn't his issue - it is his issue, because they built the list to play his game style,' one caller said.
'A few weeks ago, we beat Geelong, so the list can play great footy. We just need to find a guy to get rid of. Sack every single coach and see who rises because I don't know who the option is,' another added.
'It's that depressing and I think we've all given up on Vossy to be honest.
'I can't see this one (Vossy surviving in the job). He's calm in the press conference, but there just doesn't seem to be any passion.'
While Voss retains the public support of senior players such as Nick Haynes, who said, 'we've played some good quarters this year, which shows the system works", there is now an unmistakable split between fans calling for change and those urging stability.
Carlton currently sits 11th on the ladder with a 6–9 record - a far cry from the preseason talk of a premiership push.
Thursday night's 16.14 (110) to 8.12 (60) capitulation at Adelaide Oval followed a shock 11-point defeat to bottom-placed North Melbourne just five days earlier.
Footy boss Brad Lloyd and list manager Nick Austin were singled out by name in the graffiti, with speculation mounting over whether incoming CEO Graham Wright - a noted reformer - will spearhead off-field changes at the season's end.
Carlton's senior players have also begun taking public ownership of the club's poor performances, with Haynes issuing a blunt warning to teammates.
'If blokes don't do it, we've got plenty of young guys coming through the twos who will play the system we want,' Haynes said.
'We've played some good quarters this year, which shows the system works, but we haven't been able to play that system for long enough; for four full quarters.'
Haynes, who joined Carlton this year after a long stint at GWS, offered full backing of coach Michael Voss - a sentiment echoed by the graffiti, which urged the club to 'Keep Voss' even as frustration boils over.
Voss, who remains under contract until the end of 2026, struck a measured tone post-match, calling for unity and accountability from both players and coaches alike.
'It's collective accountability - there's no separate groups here,' Voss said.
'We always look at ourselves (coaches) first, then impart some of the things we need to in front of the players and ask them to play to the standard as well.'
'What you do find out a lot about is your character – your football team, football club, right now and what connection is needed to be able to ensure that we do get that turnaround.'