Only hours after Michael Voss said Brisbane’s AFL season could still be alive, the Lions dramatically killed him off as the Lions coach.
Their decision to not extend Voss’ contract beyond this season will intensify speculation that former Sydney premiership coach Paul Ross is headed to the Lions.
Voss confirmed his departure would take effect immediately.
“I don’t know how I feel, to be honest,” Voss told Channel Seven.
“Tomorrow I will wake up and I don’t go to work.
“That’s all I know.
“The club is dear to me, but what I get a kick out of is that I’ve gone every day and there’s been something to improve in our players.
“I think that’s what I will miss the most.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Voss had said Brisbane’s season was “well and truly alive” if Essendon were stripped of their premiership points.
“We sit as one of those teams in the mix,” Voss said of the Lions, who are 13th with eight wins.
The Lions were yet to comment on Voss’ departure, with speculation that assistant and former Fremantle senior coach Mark Harvey would have the caretaker role for the rest of the season.
The stunning news came as Voss’ fellow 1996 Brownlow Medallist, Essendon coach James Hird, was awaiting his fate as the AFL deliberated over the Bombers’ supplements scandal.
Brisbane players were called to the club at 3.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday to be told Voss would not have his contract renewed beyond this season.
“It’s hard to describe – I’m not angry, I’m not sad,” Voss said.
“There’s a little bit of disappointment there, but more because we’ve put five years of work into this.”
One of the most intriguing features of Brisbane’s decision is that the team had improved in the second half of the season.
They won the pre-season competition, but then struggled badly at the start of the season and that meant added pressure for Voss about his future.
But Brisbane have won five of their past seven games, starting with their stunning round-13 comeback against Geelong at the ‘Gabba.
Voss is a revered figure at the Lions, having captained the team in the 2001-03 premierships.
He had coached Brisbane since 2009, with sixth that season their best finish during his tenure.
Melbourne spoke to Roos after sacking Mark Neeld earlier this season, but he has repeatedly said he does not want to return to coaching.
Lions chairman Angus Johnson was booed and heckled when he spoke at the club’s fundraising auction in Brisbane on Tuesday night when he made an unscheduled statement about Voss.
A small section of the function’s crowd let their displeasure be known when Johnson confirmed Voss would not be offered a new contract.
“Notwithstanding the significant contribution he has made, the board obviously believes it’s in the best interest of the football club,” he told the function, prompting boos.
“We have gone through a very robust and comprehensive process.
When Johnson added that it had been “an incredibly difficult decision for me and the other directors” to dump Voss, a crowd member yelled out: “well, quit”.
But there was some applause when Johnson added: “I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Vossy and the contribution he’s made as a coach and the legacy that he’s going to leave this football club.”
Johnson said he would discuss the decision further at a 12 noon press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Johnson’s address was in contrast to the three-line statement the Lions released on Tuesday night about Voss’ departure.
“The Brisbane Lions can confirm senior coach Michael Voss was informed this afternoon by the club’s board that his contract would not be extended beyond this season,” the statement said.
“Voss, in his fifth year as Lions coach, was off-contract at the end of this season.
“Voss notified the club that he would stand down from the role effective immediately.”
Bob Murphy
Guest
Coaching the 3rd youngest list has come with the challenges .. Vossy has finally got them to the point of improvement each time they play. U can't always blame the coach.. There r 2 many variables involved. Vossy us so under-rated as a coach.. He has so much love and passion 4 the Lions and his boys. Very hard to replace.
Mark Needham
Guest
The most disgusting thing I've seen in sacking a coach, king hit from behind vossa champion for this club deserved better than that, good luck micheal voss stay proud, hang ya head in shame Brisbane board
piperlen
Guest
looks as tho' the Lions board is closely aligned with Cricket Australia, NSW Rugby League Commission and Referees board, plus a few other idiot boards. I was raised on a diet of Aussie Rules in Hobart in the 1940-50's but since then have been a rugby league convert...that said have gone to some of the Lions games, watched a lot of their TV games, I firmly believe Voss was doing OK...the past few games are surely an indicator. The board have killed my interest for further followings.
Jayvan Collins
Roar Pro
WIth respect TomC, you are the one who replied with a surly response to mine. As for continuing with respect: I look at the squad very differently to you. I see as much, if not more potential then the squads above us on the ladder, except the top 4 and in his years of coaching he hasn't once managed to develop these younger players into a decent team. Which to me means he has underachieved, so let us split the middle on this and agree he has been 'average' for his squad. Here are some other points from my knowledge on this discussion: 1. Voss was the key instigater in the Fevola 'incident' 2. Voss was the key player in signing their 'talent manager' 3. There recorde this year is 8 wins, 11 losses - 42% win rate - comparable with his record. 4. One or two good runs does not make you a good coach, consistant good runs does. 5. I am under the impression that he did not 'coach' the side during the NAB cup as well acting more as an assistant or player coach throughout the pre-season series. So, I would like to ask again, what facts would you like to present that justify his position.
TomC
Roar Guru
Haven't seen any of the articles you're talking about, but it would be disappointing if the Fevola trade was a key reason in today's decision. Voss was a very young, very inexperienced coach then. As someone who watches the Lions pretty closely I'm confident in saying he's quite a different coach now. Unfortunately, Fevola has been an albatross around his neck since 2010. It's pretty silly to judge a five year coaching career off one decision. As for Bradshaw, he only lasted as long at the Swans as Fevola did at the Lions. Didn't turn out to be much of a loss. It'd be a shame if he still bore a grudge against his premiership teammate.
TomC
Roar Guru
What on earth are 'Wooblies'?
Kevin
Guest
Sorry mate , I forgot to add digital / digitally for simple clarity, .. Anyway, fevola as the Voss legacy punch line? You reckon Daniel Bradshaw is popping the Moët?
WoobliesFan
Guest
Voss has been flat-out crap and out of his depth. Its pretty simple.
TomC
Roar Guru
There are printed editions already?
TomC
Roar Guru
Would you now? Well, as with any individual in any position, I'd prefer to judge them on their abilities right now, rather than how good they were three or four years ago. I don't feel that the Fevola debacle, or the deep hole the club was in around 2010-11, which of course is reflected in your stats, tells us much about what kind of coach Voss is now. If I look at the squad he's had in 2012-13, I'd say W-L records of 10-12 and 8-11 (probably ending up 10-12) are about right; maybe even a slight overachievement. Now, if you want to continue this conversation, I'd suggest a somewhat more respectful approach, mate.
Jayvan Collins
Roar Pro
110 games, 44 wins, 40% win ratio. I would like to see some justification on why you believe he has been 'acceptable'.
Kevin
Guest
It's hilarious how in most printed editions it states an unacceptable / unsuccesful association with the " fevola experiment " caused his downfall..
TomC
Roar Guru
As I said Jayvan, I believe his performance has been acceptable over the last couple of seasons. I don't really like having to repeat myself.
Jayvan Collins
Roar Pro
Why did he as the coach have one of the youngest squads? His decisions as a coach have played a big part in that.
Jayvan Collins
Roar Pro
Only two? Performance isn't one of them?
Robert
Guest
Obviously not beating your chest about your spelling ability -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Not normally one to beat my own chest...... However I did right in May about how this was the right decision. http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/05/08/time-to-toss-voss-as-brisbane-lions-coach/ However the thing was Voss was starting to persuade me on the back of a much improved Lions in the 2nd half of the season. Surely they've got Roosy signed sealed and delivered to make this decision now.
mark
Guest
Hope it is not Roos, great football person, but seriously the rolling mauls that he created at Sydney, which Longmire has religiously persisted with , and his other disciple Lyon who has instigated the same at Freo does nothing for the football watcher. Interestingly a Englishman John Devaney, who has documented more than 1100 Australian football clubs agrres with me ( off topic i know) :) http://australianfootball.com/articles/view/Footy%2527s%2Bprolific%2BPom/481 Hopefully the rules committee, will limit the rotations to 120 per game in a attempt to generate open football will prevail. IMO 80 would be a better number. Voss may feel hard done by, in hindsight it was probably Fevola that let him down.
Robert
Guest
Voss has the second or third youngest squad in the comp to The Suns and GWS but he is scrutinised more than most other coaches.They are building well with some very likely characters coming through.Roos must be the bloke they have lined up.Hopefully it doesnt affect the team for the final 3 games -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
TomC
Roar Guru
Well, there's only two reasonable explanations here that I can see. Either they've lined up Paul Roos, or Voss has done something he shouldn't have. Former makes more sense than the latter. If Voss has been sacked simply so the club can run another selection process for an untried coach then I'd suggest the board is overrating the quality of the list. Voss hasn't been a great coach, but the results of the past two seasons are acceptable with the squad he had to work with.