Michael Voss
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| Image:Mvsq2.JPG | |
| Personal Info | |
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| Birth | 7 July 1975, Traralgon, Victoria |
| Recruited from | Morningside (AFLQ) |
| Height/Weight | 183cm / 88kg |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 18 18 July 1992, Brisbane Bears FC vs. Fitzroy FC, at Princes Park |
| Team(s) | Brisbane Bears (1992-1996) |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
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Michael Voss (born July 7, 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer, usually playing midfield or in the forward line 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] along with Hird and Buckley.
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[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 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 games 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.
[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 mid 2004, Voss booted a career best 7 goals against Adelaide 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 knee tendonitis 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. [1] In 2006, the problems he suffered with knee tendonitis 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.
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.[2]
Voss joined the Channel 10 commentary team in 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ "Lions legend Voss calls it a day", Adelaide Advertiser, News Limited, October 6 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ^ "Voss added to Rules squad", The Australian, News Limited, October 12 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Paul Kelly |
Brownlow Medallist 1996 (shared with James Hird) |
Succeeded by Robert Harvey |
| Preceded by Jason Akermanis, Justin Leppitsch |
Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest winner 2000-2001 |
Succeeded by Simon Black |
| Preceded by Andrew McLeod |
Leigh Matthews Trophy 2002 (shared with Luke Darcy) |
Succeeded by Retained |
| Preceded by Shared with Luke Darcy |
Leigh Matthews Trophy 2003 |
Succeeded by Nick Riewoldt |
| Preceded by Simon Black |
Brisbane Lions Best and Fairest winner 2003 |
Succeeded by Nigel Lappin |
| Preceded by Inaugural captain |
Brisbane Lions captain 1997-2006 |
Succeeded by Nigel Lappin, Simon Black, Jonathan Brown, Chris L. Johnson, Luke Power |
