Breaking: Michael Voss calls for AFL rule after teenage star chooses Richmond over Carlton…

BREAKING: Michael Voss Calls for AFL Rule After Teenage Star Chooses Richmond Over Carlton

Carlton head coach Michael Voss has called on the AFL to consider rule changes around player recruitment and development following the high-profile decision of a teenage sensation to join Richmond over Carlton. The Blues had heavily invested time and resources in nurturing the young talent, only to see him opt for their traditional rivals, sparking frustration and renewed debate about fairness in the league’s talent acquisition structure.

The teenage star, whose name is being kept confidential due to AFL privacy guidelines, had been part of Carlton’s developmental academy and had trained extensively with the club’s junior pathways. According to club sources, Carlton had been confident of signing the youngster until Richmond swooped in late with a more aggressive offer that turned the tide in their favor.

Voss, speaking to reporters following the news, expressed disappointment but emphasized that the situation highlights broader systemic issues that the AFL must address.

“We’re doing all this work to develop kids, build trust, and lay the foundation — only for another club to come in and take advantage at the final hour,” Voss said. “It’s not just about Carlton; this affects every club that’s heavily invested in its future.”

The Carlton boss is advocating for a rule similar to the father-son or academy bidding system used by northern clubs, which gives priority access to homegrown talent. Under Voss’s proposed system, clubs that provide sustained developmental support for players from junior levels would be given preferential rights to sign those players once they become draft eligible.

Many AFL commentators have echoed Voss’s concerns, pointing to similar cases in recent seasons where talent cultivated by one club ended up elsewhere, often without compensation.

Richmond, for its part, has remained tight-lipped, with insiders suggesting the teenager was drawn by the Tigers’ recent development success and premiership culture. The club insists all recruitment was within AFL rules.

While the AFL has yet to officially respond, insiders believe the growing frequency of such cases may push the league toward reviewing talent retention policies.

As player movement becomes more dynamic and competitive, Voss’s comments are likely to reignite the conversation around equity, loyalty, and long-term development in Australian football — and whether the current framework adequately supports the clubs doing the heavy lifting.