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Matthew Kennedy wife detail called out as Michael Voss ripped over 'horrible' Carlton calls

The Blues coach is copping plenty of criticism for some of his decisions against Brisbane.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

Michael Voss is facing plenty of questions over some of his selection calls in Carlton's embarrassing loss to Brisbane in the AFL finals. And many have pointed out how rough it was to see Matthew Kennedy subbed out of the game after he'd made a mad dash to play after his wife gave birth.

Carlton's season was ended in brutal fashion at the Gabba on Saturday, with the Blues becoming the first team in 50 years not to score a point in the opening quarter of a finals game. Voss' side eventually went down 14.15 (99) to 11.5 (71) after conceding the first nine goals of the match, before kicking five straight and the game's final three.

Michael Voss alongside Matthew Kennedy and his wife.
Michael Voss (L) is copping backlash for his selection calls, most notably his decision to sub Matthew Kennedy (centre) out of the game. Image: Getty/Instagram

The Blues sparked into action once Tom De Koning was subbed into the game, but it came at the expense of Kennedy. The key forward had played every game for Carlton in 2024, and was a vital cog in their campaign.

He was seen looking very annoyed on the bench after being taken out of the game, after he'd put his team before his wife and new baby by playing in the game. Kennedy could have opted to miss the game to spend time with his new son, but decided to make a mad dash to Brisbane to play and be there for his teammates.

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Fans were left fuming over the treatment of the Carlton star after Voss' decision to sub him out. One person wrote on social media: "If I was Kennedy, I’d be requesting a trade at half time. That’s some of the most disgusting treatment of a player from a club I’ve ever seen. Flew up late, made himself available. Has done everything the coaching team has asked of him all season. Then this."

Another wrote: "If I’m Matthew Kennedy I’m absolutely FILTHY at being subbed off ahead of guys like Durdin, Motlop and Fantasia. Bust my ass in every position I’ve been asked to do all year, made a last minute dash from his child’s birth to play..And handed the red vest."

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Speaking after the game, Melbourne great Garry Lyon was gobsmacked by some of Voss' calls. “Coming into this selection wise, they rolled the dice,” he said on Fox Footy. "Not all of them worked – in fact none of it worked when it mattered most. It’s 60-zip (at half-time). All of those selections were horrible.

"As the game wore on, they got themselves back into it. (Zac) Williams didn’t look like he could go at all, De Koning starts as a sub and (Alex) Cincotta doesn’t play at all."

Matthew Kennedy in action for Carlton against Brisbane in the AFL finals.
Many thought Matthew Kennedy was the last Carlton player Michael Voss should have taken off. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt also expressed disbelief that De Koning started on the bench. “I’m completely miffed by the De Koning one," he said. "He changed the game in the centre of the ground for Carlton when he came on.

“(Tom) is a competitive beast. He’s high in clearances, contested possessions. He just gives them energy around the ball and Marc Pittonet is not that type of player. He’s more of a lumbering type of ruckman who gets around the ground, I thought it was a misstep.

“I’ve got no problem with rolling the dice, I just don’t think Tom De Koning is the right sub. He’s your No.1 ruck. Mid-year this year he was discussed as an All-Australian ruckman, or a prospect of an All-Australian ruckman. Get him in the middle."