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Brisbane Lions coach and AFL great Michael Voss has dismissed the impact Israel Folau’s walkout will have on the code as nothing more than a “mozzie bite”.
The Brownlow medallist said it might be different if the AFL was mourning the loss of Chris Judd, Jonathan Brown or a Simon Black had they turned their back on the game.
Asked if the AFL was sporting a black eye after Folau pulled the pin on the final two years of his multi-million dollar deal with Greater Western Sydney, Voss it would hardly cause a ripple.
“If it was Chris Judd or Jonathan Brown, it probably would (have a big impact) but they’re not walking away from the game early,” Voss told reporters as the club announced their new co-major sponsor Vero on Friday.
“In terms of a black … no – a blemish, a mozzie bite.”
Voss said Folau, who played 13 games and kicked just two goals, had come from another code and wanted to return.
“He’s going back to that code and that’s what he chooses to do.
“Our code will certainly carry on. It’s certainly bigger than one person.
Voss was one of the few high-profile personalities in the code who criticised the AFL for splashing out a reported $6 million on international rugby league stars Folau and Karmichael Hunt who was the first to jump codes in 2009.
He said while he supported efforts to push the game into new markets, he felt the millions thrown at two untried league players could have been better invested in national youth programs to develop their own stars.
The Brisbane legend resisted the temptation to say “I told you so” on Friday, almost to the point of defending the AFL, who clearly wanted the two league superstars more as publicity heads than potential crowd pullers.
“I think you’ll find it’s an experiment that hasn’t worked, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work in the future,” said Voss.
Fellow code-hopper Hunt said his former Brisbane teammate had followed his heart by making a “brave decision”.
“I guess it’s a pretty brave decision on his behalf and I respect his decision because he felt his heart’s not in it,” he said from altitude training in Arizona with the Gold Coast Suns.
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