Michael Voss (born 7 July 1975) is a former coach and player for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is currently serving as the midfield coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club.
During his AFL playing career, in which he played entirely for the Brisbane Bears and then the Brisbane Lions (a merger of the Brisbane Bears with a Melbourne-based club, the Fitzroy Football Club also known as the Lions), Voss was recognised as one of the greats of league and club and is listed by journalist Mike Sheahan as one of the top 50 players of all time. He won the league's most prestigious individual award, the Brownlow Medal, and was recognised as one of the best players and captains in the league between 2002 and 2003 through six time All-Australian selection including the captaincy and the winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy for the league's most valued player. He captained the Brisbane Lions in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals with three straight premierships (2001–2003). Additionally, he represented Australia in the 2006 International Rules Series. As a player, he was noted for his fearless play, inspirational leadership and the ability to turn a game. Voss has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Early life and career[]
Voss 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 in Logan, Queensland. Voss attended Trinity College during his high school years in Queensland.
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' football skills were excellent from an early age. He made his senior debut for Morningside in the QAFL at the age of 15 years. A year later he kicked 14 goals for Queensland in an under-17 representative match, before eventually winning the Hunter-Harrison Medal for the tournament. The following week, at 17 years and 11 days of age, 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.
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 he 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 Voss suffered his first major career setback. Contesting a mark at Subiaco Oval in Perth in a match against Fremantle, he collided with Shane Parker and shattered his leg. The subsequent operation was at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and it was a year before he was fit and in training to play again. Brisbane finished 16th and with a wooden spoon that year with a 5-1-16 record.
Premiership and captaincy success[]
Voss captained the Brisbane Lions in four consecutive AFL Grand Finals, yielding three 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 and former Bears teammate Nathan Buckley.
Later career[]
In early 2004, Voss kicked a career best seven 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 whilst renovating his home.[10] He recovered to play his 250th game the following week,[11] but the Lions suffered an embarrassing six-point loss to eventual premiers Sydney after they had led by 32 points at the final change.[12] Prior to this, Voss had suffered from tendinitis of the knee but had been able to curtail the problem. The calf injury affected 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 35 possessions 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 and Brisbane Lions with three premierships to his name and found a job for two years with Channel 10 in Brisbane, presenting the sport. Voss said farewell in what turned out to be his last game, at the Gabba in Round 22 against St Kilda, gathering 34 possessions and two Brownlow Medal votes as a struggling Brisbane Lions team went down by 50 points to finals bound St Kilda who won in Brisbane for the first time in a decade. Despite losing badly, the Lions received a long standing ovation from a sold out home crowd after the game for their premiership efforts and farewell to several other players.
Honours and achievements[]
- Team:
- AFL Premiership (Brisbane Lions): 2001 (C), 2002 (C), 2003 (C)
- Individual:
- Brownlow Medal: 1996 (tied with James Hird)
- Brisbane Bears Club Champion Award: 1995, 1996
- Merrett-Murray Medal (Brisbane Lions): 2000, 2001, 2003
- Brisbane Lions Captain: 1997–2006
- All-Australian: 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002 (C), 2003 (C)
- AFLPA Most Valuable Player Award (Leigh Matthews Trophy): 2002, 2003
- AFLPA Best Captain Award: 2001, 2002 2003, 2004
- AFLPA Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award: 2001
- Herald Sun Player of the Year Award: 2003
- Lou Richards Medal: 2001
- Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year Award: 2001
Life after football[]
Voss joined the Network Ten AFL commentary team in 2007 in a special comments role. He was also appointed the role of sports anchor on Ten's 5 o'clock weekday news in Brisbane.
In 2011, Voss was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Controversy[]
In 2007, Voss was charged for his role in a melee with Simon Black, Fraser Gehrig and three other high-profile AFL players at a Melbourne nightclub. At the resulting trial, Voss agreed to enter a diversion program and therefore no conviction was recorded.