Voss Replaces Matthews as Brisbane Coach

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In a shock announcement last Monday, Leigh Matthews announced his retirement as Brisbane coach. Matthews took over as coach of the Lions in 1999 and coached the team in 237 games, including their three premierships 2001-2003. Matthews, in making the announcement said it was the right time for him step aside. Matthews will remain with the club to assist with the post-season review and list management. 

In his first season with the Lions, he took them from 16th in 1998 to fourth in 1999, one of the best turnarounds from one season to the next in league history. In 2008, he also became the longest-serving coach in the history of Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and the Brisbane Lions. Last year, in overtook Bill Stephen's 214 games as Fitzroy coach and this year surpassed Robert Walls' record of 224 games as coach of Fitzroy (1981-1985) and the Brisbane Bears (1991-1995). Matthews is also eighth on the all-time AFL list for games coached. He played 332 games for Hawthorn and began his coaching career with Collingwood.

LEIGH MATTHEWS
HAWTHORN (1969-85)
Debut: 1969
Games: 332
Goals: 915
Premierships: 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983
Player Honors: Best First Year Player, represented Victoria in 14 games, captained Victoria in 1980; Club leading goalkicker 1973, 1975, 1981-84, Coleman Medal 1975; Hawthorn captain 1981-85; All-Australian 1972, 1982, 1983; AFL Team of The Century, Hawthorn Team of The Century; AFL Hall of Fame Legend. Several years ago, the AFL struck a trophy in Matthews' honor. That trophy is awarded to the AFL MVP at the end of the season.

AT COLLINGWOOD (1986-95)
Coached Collingwood 1986-1995 for a total of 224 games. He coached the Magpies to the premiership in 1990, their first Grand Final win in 32 years.

The club wasted little time in selecting a replacement for Matthews. They quickly offered former player Michael Voss a three year contract and he accepted. Voss, who recently turned down the senior coaching position for the new Gold Coast team, has been working as an assistant coach with the AIS-AFL Academy and has been heavily involved in the media doing special comments for the Ten Network match broadcasts as well as hosting a footy chat show on the same network. Voss also recently accepted a position as an assistant coach with the West Coast Eagles but the Eagles have consented to release him so he can join the Lions.

MICHAEL VOSS
Drafted by Brisbane as a QLD Zone selection 1991
Debut: 1992
Games: 289
Goals: 245
Finals: 19

HONORS: Brownlow Medal 1996; All-Australian 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003; All-Australian Vice Captain 2001; All-Australian Captain 2002, 2003; AFL Players Association MVP 2002, 2003; AFL Players Association Best Captain 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004; AFL Players Association Most Courageous Player 2001;
Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year 2001, 2003; AFL Life Member 2006; AFL Personality of the Year 2006; Brisbane Lions Captain (ten years) 1997-2006; Premiership Captain 2001, 2002, 2003; Club best and fairest 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003; Club Award as Most Professional Player 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006; Most Courageous Player 2006; Lions Life Member 2001; Lions Team of the Decade Captain 2006; Queensland Team of the Century Captain 2003; Queensland State of Origin Representative 1992; Queensland-NT State of Origin Representative 1993; Allies State of Origin Representative 1996; Australian International Rules Representative 2006; various media awards 1996-2003

Source: Stephen Buckley, Club Media Release