4 days ago
Carlton coach Michael Voss responds as AFL investigates threatening message left on MCG's anti-social hotline service
Carlton coach Michael Voss has delivered a powerful response to a threat aimed at him amid the club's poor form.
A threatening text message directed at Voss was left on the MCG's anti-social hotline service during the team's loss to Collingwood on Friday, and is currently being investigated by the AFL's integrity unit.
Voss admitted he was initially dismissive of the threat, but then delivered a take-down of frustrated fans who have responded to the club's current slump with anger.
"We think by showing passion is about anger — and it's not about that at all," he said at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
"There's a way we need to behave and there's a way we need to go about it — and when things are tough, you've got to show that support the right way. Not the wrong way.
"Now if that's a measure for some people on what it should look like, then I'm sorry you don't belong here.
"We'll move on and we'll make sure we continue to bring a supporter base that will support in the good times and it will support in the bad and we'll continue to support our people to be able to do that."
Voss said while he was "dismissive at first", he quickly thought about the impact such a threat would have on his loved ones.
"The first thing you always think about is the person beside you or the family member or the team. Because, as a result of what I do, you appreciate there's an element of scrutiny that comes with that," he said.
"But then there's a part that's completely unacceptable — and I think we can all agree that part is unacceptable. And we don't tolerate that as an industry.
"We leave that with the AFL Integrity (Unit) at the moment and I expect a pretty forthright response. But this is the current nature we need to consider within the AFL environment and we all have responsibilities … and you've got to understand that the ripple effect goes beyond what your opinion is. It reaches deeper."
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan described the threats aimed at Voss as an unfortunate constant of the AFL's coaching caper.
"We've all been through that," he said.
"It's tough. I see there was some death threats … that's pretty average.
"I've got no doubt he'd be doing the best job that he can, but that's just the world AFL coaches live in.
"Faceless people, lack of courage. As coaches, we try to brush those things off, to be honest."
