Patron who sent threatening text about Michael Voss identified as Collingwood member with heavy ban handed down

The patron who threatened Carlton coach Michael Voss via a text message has been banned for five years by the AFL, with Collingwood revealing they were a club member.

The MCG has also issued a separate five-year ban for all events at the ground.

During the round 17 fixture between Carlton and Collingwood, a text from the person was sent to the MCG's anti-social hotline service and received by the venue's security team and passed on to the AFL. It's not known what was written in the message, and it's understood there was no credible threat to Voss' safety.

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"The anti-social hotline at venues is designed to ensure everyone attending the match can do so in a safe and inclusive manner, and the majority of times this service is used appropriately," head of AFL integrity and security, Tony Keane, said in a statement.

"We understand there is passion in the game; however, the text message in question sent to the MCG hotline on Friday crossed the line.

"Regardless of the intent, no coach, player, official, staff member or fan deserves to be threatened in such a way, and now that patron has lost the privilege of attending the footy."

The text has since been revealed to state: 'I'd like to report 23 missing persons and preemptively report the murder of Michael Voss'.

Collingwood backed the AFL's call, with the club also banning the member for five years.

"The club is very disappointed by the member's actions which has resulted in a five-year ban from both the MCG and AFL – Collingwood will follow suit," the club's statement read.

"Collingwood will not tolerate any threats to officials, supporters or individuals in our great game - such conduct is unacceptable and not representative of the club or its values."

Earlier, Matthew Lloyd had called for a lifetime ban.

"Disgraceful behaviour by the man, they do know who it has come from now, so I expect a really strong response from the AFL today," Lloyd told Nine's Today.

"Michael Voss was outstanding yesterday, saying there's a great side to football, but there's also a dark side and a toxic side that has crossed the line in the last couple of days.

"I expect a lifetime ban for that gentleman at some stage today. I've seen lesser behaviour (punished with) lifetime bans."

As for Voss himself, Lloyd wonders whether the debacle will have him contemplating whether he even wants to remain Carlton's coach in 2026.

"In terms of Voss, he was very reflective yesterday. You just wonder if he's asking himself, given the pressure that has come on him with the way Carlton is performing, whether he is thinking about life after football with the strain and pressure that has been on him and now this threat on top of it," he said.

"I think there's no doubt that either Michael goes or they keep Michael, and everyone else around him goes. There's got to be a fair bit of change at Carlton."

Carlton has underperformed in 2025, having hoped to contend for a premiership after spending most of 2024 in the top four.

Voss was told about the incident and was initially dismissive, but urged the AFL to look into the matter, considering the impact it had on his family.

"[I] know because of what I do there is an element of scrutiny that comes with that, but then there is a part that is completely unacceptable," he told media on Wednesday.

"We don't tolerate that as an industry, so we leave that with the AFL integrity [unit] at the moment and I expect a pretty forthright response."

An MCC spokesperson told The Age: "We have an anti-social behaviour text service to report any incidents and it's monitored in real time on event days.

"Relevant information is then passed onto MCC security and, if required, Victoria Police to manage accordingly. MCC security has made the AFL integrity unit aware of this matter."

Victoria Police said in a statement that the message had been investigated, and "no criminality was identified".