Next on Carlton’s agenda, post the Michael Voss era, is the Western Bulldogs.

The Blues will meet the Dogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night with caretaker coach Josh Fraser at the helm.

Peculiarly, it so often seems to be the Dogs who cop a club after the sacking or resignation of a senior coach.

It happened last year after Melbourne parted ways with Simon Goodwin. Troy Chaplin took the reins but the Dees lost to the Dogs by a goal.

This will be the fifth time since 2009 and the seventh occasion since 1997 that this has happened to the Dogs.

But stress less, Dogs fans. You’re 4-2 in this quirky scenario. And 3-1 from the last four occurrences. The new coach bounce hasn’t overly impacted you.

Getting it twice in two years in an 18-team comp is pretty bizarre, but it shouldn’t hold too many fears for Luke Beveridge, especially given the fact the Dogs have won the past three against the Blues and 10 of the last 13.

This is how the Dogs have fared against clubs who sacked or had their coach resign the week leading up.

2026 - Michael Voss resigned from Carlton prior to Round 10. Set to play Western Bulldogs. Result TBC.

2025 - Simon Goodwin sacked by Melbourne prior to Round 22. Troy Chaplin interim. Played Dogs who won by 6 points at the MCG. WIN.

2019 - Alan Richardson sacked by St Kilda prior to Round 18. Brett Ratten took over. Played Dogs who lost by 27 points at Marvel. LOSS.

2010 - Mark Williams sacked by Port Adelaide prior to Round 16. Matthew Primus took over. Played Dogs who won by 36 points in Darwin. WIN.

2009 - Dani Laidley sacked by North Melbourne prior to Round 13. Darren Crocker interim. Played Dogs who won by 22 points at MCG. WIN.

And if we want to delve a little further back…

2001 - Malcolm Blight sacked by St Kilda prior to Round 15. Grant Thomas took over. Played Dogs who won by 34 points at Marvel. WIN.

1997 - Robert Walls sacked by Richmond prior to Round 18. Jeff Gieschen took over. Played Dogs who lost by 15 points at Princes Park. LOSS.

Last game as coach

For good measure, the Dogs played North in Brad Scott's final game as coach in 2019, and met the Crows in Gary Ayres' last game at the helm in 2004. Both ended in defeat.

Former Dogs coach Terry Wallace coached Richmond for the final time in Round 11, 2009. Guess who that was against... you got it, the Doggies.

In the past 20 years, the Dogs sit atop the list for games played against a team that has had a sacked or resigned senior coach the week before. They have been involved in five of 27 occurrences at 18.5% which seems high given the randomness of the event.

We’ve only considered instances where a coach departed during a campaign, not at season’s end or in the off-season. 

List of sacked/resigned coaches and that club’s following game:

2026 - Michael Voss (CAR) - Western Bulldogs
2025 - Simon Goodwin (MEL) - Western Bulldogs
2024 - Adam Simpson (WCE) - Brisbane Lions
2023 - Damien Hardwick (RIC) - Port Adelaide
2023 - Stuart Dew (GCS) - St Kilda
2022 - Leon Cameron (GWS) - West Coast
2022 - David Noble (NM) - Richmond
2021 - Nathan Buckley (COL) - Bye, then Fremantle
2019 - Brad Scott (NM) - Richmond
2019 - Brendon Bolton (CAR) - Brisbane Lions
2019 - Alan Richardson (STK) - Western Bulldogs
2017 - Rodney Eade (GCS) - Brisbane Lions
2015 - Mick Malthouse (CAR) - Sydney Swans
2015 - James Hird (ESS) - Gold Coast
2013 - Mark Neeld (MEL) - Bye, then St Kilda
2013 - Michael Voss (BRI) - GWS Giants
2013 - James Hird (ESS) - Richmond
2012 - Matthew Primus (PA) - Hawthorn
2011 - Neil Craig (ADE) - Port Adelaide
2011 - Dean Bailey (MEL) - Carlton
2011 - Rodney Eade (WB) - Port Adelaide
2010 - Mark Williams (PA) - Western Bulldogs
2009 - Terry Wallace (RIC) - West Coast
2009 - Dani Laidley (NM) - Western Bulldogs
2007 - Neale Daniher (MEL) - Carlton
2007 - Chris Connolly (FRE) - Adelaide
2007 - Denis Pagan (CAR) - St Kilda

Tally (since 2007):

Western Bulldogs (5)
Brisbane Lions (3)
Port Adelaide (3)
Richmond (3)
St Kilda (3)* one bye first
West Coast (2)
Carlton (2)
Sydney Swans (1)
Gold Coast (1)
GWS Giants (1)
Hawthorn (1)
Adelaide (1)
Fremantle (1)* bye first