Michael Voss

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Michael Voss
Personal information
Full name	Michael Voss
Date of Birth	July 7, 1975 (1975-07-07) (age 32)
Place of Birth	Traralgon, Victoria
Recruited from	Mornigside (AFLQ)
Draft	TBC Brisbane Bears
Height/Weight	183cm / 88kg
Position	Midfielder (retired)
Club information
Current club	Retired
Number	Retired
Playing Career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1992-2006	Brisbane Bears/Lions	289 (245)
¹ Club statistics to end of 2006 season
² Representative statistics to end of {{{repstatsend}}} Career highlights AFL 3-time AFL Premiership Player (2001, 2002, 2003) Brownlow Medal (1996 - tied with James Hird) 2-time Leigh Matthews Trophy winner (2002, 2003) 5-time All-Australian (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003) International Rules (2001 - Captain, 2006) Madden Medal Nominee (2007) Queensland Team of the Century Captain of Queensland Team of the Century Brisbane Captain of Brisbane Lions (1997 - 2006) 3-time Brisbane Lions Premiership captain (2001, 2002, 2003) 2-time Brisbane Bears Club Champion (1995, 1996) 3-time Merrett-Murray Medallist (2000, 2001, 2003)

Michael Voss (born July 7, 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer, usually playing midfield for Australian Football League team the Brisbane Lions. At 183cm, Voss was renowned for his hardness at the ball, inspirational leadership and the ability to turn a game by his presence at the contest. Voss is considered one of the finest players of his generation.^[1]

[edit] Early life/career

He was born in Traralgon, Victoria and lived as a child in Orbost until the age of 11, when he moved with his family to Beenleigh^[1], south of Brisbane. His younger brother Brett also played for the Brisbane Lions before transferring to St Kilda Football Club to enhance his opportunities to play senior football.

Voss's football skills were self-evident from an early age, kicking 14 goals in a single game for his home state of Queensland in an under-17 representative match in 1992. The following week he debuted for the Brisbane Bears against Fitzroy at Princes Park in Melbourne, the youngest ever player to play a senior game for the club.

[edit] Rise to stardom

Although highly skilled, he was also slight, but worked as hard as any veteran in getting the most out of his body. By 1996 was one of the most accomplished players in the competition, and at the end of the season he shared the Brownlow Medal, the game's highest individual honour, with James Hird.

In 1997 after the Bears merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions and the retirement of long-term Bears captain Roger Merrett, Voss's leadership abilities were recognised in his promotion to co-captain with teammate Alastair Lynch at the age of just 21. His early form was patchy as he grew into the role, but by 1999 he was being lauded as one of the best captains in the AFL.

In 1998 he suffered his first major career setback. Contesting a mark at Subiaco Oval in Perth, he collided with an opponent and shattered his leg. The subsequent operation inserted a steel rod in his leg to stabilise the bone, and it was ten months before he was fit enough to play again. Brisbane finished 16th that year with a 5-17 record.

[edit] Premiership and captaincy success

Voss captained the Brisbane Lions in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals, yielding three premierships premierships (2001-2003). His performance in the 2002 grand final against Collingwood was an outstanding example of courage, skill and leadership, only narrowly conceding the Norm Smith Medal to opposing captain Nathan Buckley^[2]

[edit] Later career

In early 2004, Voss booted a career best 7 goals against a struggling Adelaide at AAMI Stadium as coach Leigh Matthews looked to play him in the forward line during the latter part of his career. However, a heavy injury toll to the Lions meant that Voss continued his career in the midfield.

In 2005, Voss suffered a badly cut calf before Round 2 (during a home renovation). Prior to this, Voss had suffered from tendinitis of the knee but had been able to curtail the problem. This calf injury had an impact on his performances, with the four games after the injury yielding a high possession count of only 16. Voss later improved and in Round 21 picked up a 35 possession haul against Port Adelaide.

Soon after the completion of the 2006 season, Voss announced his retirement from the AFL after 289 games and 15 years at the Brisbane Bears/Lions, and 3 premierships to his name. ^[3] In 2006, the problems he suffered with knee tendinitis affected his ability and caught up with him, in what Voss described as his "wonky knees". Voss bowed out in what turned out to be his last game, at the Gabba in Round 22 against St Kilda, gathering 34 possessions and 2 Brownlow Medal votes as a badly struggling Brisbane finally fell at home to St Kilda. The Lions received a long standing ovation after the game.

Voss was added to the Australian Football team on October 12 2006 and played in the International Rules Series series against Ireland, in Galway on October 28 and Dublin on November 5.^[4]

[edit] Life after football

Voss joined the Network 10 AFL commentary team in 2007 and was also made a Sports Anchor on Network Ten's 5pm weekday news in Brisbane.

[edit] Coaching Career

When announcing his retirement at the end of the 2006 season , there was speculation he may soon become a coach or join Leigh Matthews in the Brisbane Lions Coaching team. Voss declined the offer, as he joined the Channel 10 Sports crew as well as the commentary, and his love for television was greater than his will for coaching.

Voss coached Australia's AIS Under 17 squad to victory against the South African national Australian rules football team at North West Cricket Stadium in Potchefstroom, South Africa.^[5]

Voss was often mentioned as a candidate to coach the Melbourne Demons after the resignation of Neale Daniher. He was also linked to various other coaching positions, most notably Carlton, where he was forced to deny media rumors he had been assured of the role. ^[6]

Voss is keen on taking on the coaching role of the new Gold Coast team that could to be coming into the competition as early as 2011.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Michael Voss profile on the Official AFL Website of the Brisbane Lions Football Club
• Michael Voss's statistics from AFL Tables