Voss in 2013 (aka 'the Voss megathread')

[Triple R]

And impressing the locals, many of whom were rightly sceptical when his appointment was announced. The O&M is a strong league and the footy very physical but one local said to me that even at his age Aker stands head and shoulders above the competition in terms of skill. That's one area of his game that was never doubted. Has also been very generous with his time off the field and so far hasn't offended anyone as far as I know. You never know, he might even have the makings of an AFL coach. Good luck to him.

It's my old club, they've got some great footballers there. As you say, strong league; we used to get SANFL guys coming to play and some fringe ex-afl players and they'd all stand out that bit more. Not as much as Aker though.

 

[Lionontheline]

The old "won't renew my membership" trick..... That person needs to be listened too

Would have had more substance if they'd microwaved their membership.

 

[Fatcat08]

Would have had more substance if they'd microwaved their membership.

Yeah but the microwave stuff gets a bit tiring, surely these people can think up better ways of destroying their memberships?
melt them with a heat gun
incinerate them with a flame thrower
head down to the local crematorium and add them to someone's urn
stick them in a molitov cocktail bottle and let it loose

or for those overreactive members who are also environmentally conscious and want to harness the power of the sun at any cost

fly over to the usa, hire a car and drive out to death valley, leave your membership on a rock and watch it melt away
or the good old grab a magnifying glass and harness the power of the sun in your own backyard.

Come on people get original!

 

[Skoob]

Yeah but the microwave stuff gets a bit tiring, surely these people can think up better ways of destroying their memberships?
melt them with a heat gun
incinerate them with a flame thrower
head down to the local crematorium and add them to someone's urn
stick them in a molitov cocktail bottle and let it loose

or for those overreactive members who are also environmentally conscious and want to harness the power of the sun at any cost

fly over to the usa, hire a car and drive out to death valley, leave your membership on a rock and watch it melt away
or the good old grab a magnifying glass and harness the power of the sun in your own backyard.

Come on people get original!

Why be original with that when there is nothing original in their whinging & bitching?
"5 years blah, blah, play the kids blah, blah, our kids are shit from lack of development blah, Roosy blah, blah, blah."

 

[MacMum]

Nah, you guys are making the issue more complicated than needs be..

..just flush it down the toilet!!

 

[notliondown]

Where's Jorgo when you need him. Although notliondown could start getting a rep as teachers pet Or perhaps Jorgo and notliondown are the same person?

Poor Jorgo... I'd be careful Fatcat... not even he deserves that sort of criticism

 

[notliondown]

Yeah but the microwave stuff gets a bit tiring, surely these people can think up better ways of destroying their memberships?
melt them with a heat gun
incinerate them with a flame thrower
head down to the local crematorium and add them to someone's urn
stick them in a molitov cocktail bottle and let it loose

or for those overreactive members who are also environmentally conscious and want to harness the power of the sun at any cost

fly over to the usa, hire a car and drive out to death valley, leave your membership on a rock and watch it melt away
or the good old grab a magnifying glass and harness the power of the sun in your own backyard.

Come on people get original!

Hell... maybe they could even just throw it away, not renew and not tell anyone...

But then again no one would miss them would they

 

[Fatcat08]

Poor Jorgo... I'd be careful Fatcat... not even he deserves that sort of criticism

Didn't know you were an Opus Dei follower?

 

[Lionontheline]

Nah, you guys are making the issue more complicated than needs be..

..just flush it down the toilet!!

Or they could just shove it up their arr........exhaust pipe.

 

[MacMum]

....

 

[matwt73]

So that's round 15 done and dusted.

I guess it is time for Voss to get the sack, you know given we didn't win anything between round 6 and 14 and got beaten by the Suns ... Oh... Hang on

 

[Big Lion]

I was one that wanted Vossy gone. The fact the team wasn't playing as a team, some of the structures that he had set up, the lack of any real game plan, the way players were being developed etc etc all made we think he should be shown the door. But his made me change my opinion. The team looks like its playing for him and they are working for each other and while they don't always win they are cracking in with a purpose that was lacking earlier in the year. While i wouldn't be giving him a 3 year deal he at least deserves another year or two to see where he takes us.

 

[Sir G]

Love Vossy, think he has done a reasonable job but I think it's time for a change, fresh start, new ideas etc. plus I don't want his reputation further tarnished! He doesn't deserve it!

 

[Slax]

The most important thing for me about Voss is that the playing group is completely behind him. When you have the support of the players and the club is moving forward it is madness to change coach for no valid reason. A lot of people need to accept that unfrotunately the norm is to take a decade to rebuild after a period of brillance, what Geelong has done is freakish in the extreme and unlikely to be repeated by any other club anytime soon.

Or do some people want to have a look at Melbourne for what to do next? 2 years ago Melbourne were clearly in a better position than us in development terms and direction, sack the coach appoint a dud and two years later you are a basket case where it will take another 2 years to get back to where they were when they sacked Bailey. Carlton are also starting to look like they made a similar decision replacing Ratten with Malthouse.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'd give Vossy a 1 year deal with the option of 2 years. I get the filling when we do improve it will be a large improvement. It will just all click and we will be beating everybody.

 

[blynd_freddie]

Love Vossy, think he has done a reasonable job but I think it's time for a change, fresh start, new ideas etc. plus I don't want his reputation further tarnished! He doesn't deserve it!

Yeah totally agree!

It’s all a bit like that sun thing isn’t it, you know… it rises in the east of a morning sets every frigg’n evening in the west – and where’s the consistency? Less daylight hours of a winter… and the seasonal temperature variance.

Yeah the sun is doing a reasonable job but really, it’s time for change, a fresh start.

 

[wantok]

I like the idea of a change of mentor for Vossy. I think our guys are playing for him but I still have this gut feeling that he has difficulty with game day decision making and I think he might have learnt all there is to learn from Harvey. I don't think it likely that Paul Roos will take a up the job at Melbourne. He has stated that he doesn't want to coach and is devoting more time to family. If he was available would make an excellent part time mentor and game day guru for Vossy. He could continue with some of his media roles such as On the Couch and spend 2 days a week and game day in Brisbane or on the road with the team. We would get the benefit of his strategic thinking (list management, team selection) and game day nous.We might get him for similar money to Harvey.

 

[blynd_freddie]

I like the idea of a change of mentor for Vossy. I think our guys are playing for him but I still have this gut feeling that he has difficulty with game day decision making and I think he might have learnt all there is to learn from Harvey. I don't think it likely that Paul Roos will take a up the job at Melbourne. He has stated that he doesn't want to coach and is devoting more time to family. If he was available would make an excellent part time mentor and game day guru for Vossy. He could continue with some of his media roles such as On the Couch and spend 2 days a week and game day in Brisbane or on the road with the team. We would get the benefit of his strategic thinking (list management, team selection) and game day nous.We might get him for similar money to Harvey.

I do agree - with this line of thought. Maybe more the infusion of fresh ideas from a couple of new assistant coaches, additions not replacements. The suggestion is of more dollars, so the signing of [for example only] say a Leigh Tudor from Sydney and a Luke Beveridge from Hawthorn as additional midfield and development coaches.

I feel Voss has now done his apprenticeship and the need for a full-time mentor, although still a great idea is a lesser urgency. I would like the club to try a retired US gridiron or basketball coach for a short term consultancy role over the preseason then get him to return say the month both sides of the mid-year bye.

I think all the above would bring in a freshness, if only a small amount of current and up-to-date IP information - I also see this more stable/positive than sacking a coach and/or assistant coaches.

 

[Triple R]

I like the idea of a change of mentor for Vossy. I think our guys are playing for him but I still have this gut feeling that he has difficulty with game day decision making and I think he might have learnt all there is to learn from Harvey. I don't think it likely that Paul Roos will take a up the job at Melbourne. He has stated that he doesn't want to coach and is devoting more time to family. If he was available would make an excellent part time mentor and game day guru for Vossy. He could continue with some of his media roles such as On the Couch and spend 2 days a week and game day in Brisbane or on the road with the team. We would get the benefit of his strategic thinking (list management, team selection) and game day nous.We might get him for similar money to Harvey.

So moving Patfull to curb the influence of Enright was a bad move during the Geelong game? Switching Staker forward in the GC game was similar? These are just a couple of recent examples where game day coaching has been far better than before. Perhaps he has the right cattle on the park and is therefore allowed to make such changes.

Would getting Roos be at the expense of Harvey?

 

[lions27]

I'm not sure why people are saying "give him 1 more year", any contract has to be a 2 year extension... Provides stability and belief for everyone including players and us members

 

[lukiuslion]

I am one who has flipped and flopped on this issue. However, Since the announcement of extra spending on the football dept for next year, something lacking desperatly during Voss's tenure, I am now 100% sure Voss should and will get another 2 years. Have you seen Robb Kerr sitting next him on Game days?, Manny Lynch manning the white board or brett Burton giving instruction to players on the bench? - we are hopelessly short staffed, we don't even have a devalopment coach. That and the fact Leuey and Rich turned down bigger money elsewhere to stay at the Lions. The fact is, the club is unified in its direction and the playing group are working hard for each other and the coach, Daniel rich said during his interview on Sunrise "A great team with a great coach", and that was not accidental, and that is something that is missing at a lot of other clubs. however - frustration is created by the fact we are still simply not good enough to confidently execute and maintain maximum output for 4 quarters, and in your 5th year the blowtorch is going to be turned ont he coach. It is my view that Paul Roos or Michael Voss, we are not there yet.

Another point is - Voss realistically hasn't had 5 years, Whilst he played a hand in reason the re-build was needed, he started a re-build in 2011. Since then player development has been good, Golby, Lester, Zorko, Redden, Rockcliff, Mayes, Clarke and more. We went from 4 games to 10 games, to a NAB CUP victory, and now we have leveled out, but it is not enough to suggest our improvement has not been there in that 2 and a half seasons.

Whist I find his selection frustrating from time to time, I don't adhere to this notion that he is a hopeless game day coach. There have been several examples this year where we have been 'coached' back into games. There are several examples where the correct moves have been made at the right time. Whilst people like to say Voss had nothing to do with the Geelong win, Im pretty sure the directive was to fire from beyond 50 anytime you get a chance, play on at all costs, go directly down the middle from the last line of defence. Say what you like - but that's why we won the game. Moving Merrett forward was a great thing for the club, He asked to rectify the poor starts, he got that, He asked to get better contested ball numbers, he got that, He asked for more pressure on the opposition ball carrier, he got that, he asked for a bigger spread of goal kickers, he got that. Yes - we have also fallen short in a lot of areas, but you can only deal with one problem at a time with a young group. He has proven he can identify a shortfall in the team and he can 'coach' the team into dealing with that problem.

Also his game plan - if you don't understand our game plan, then you don't understand football.
We are essentially a corridor side, we play on at all costs with runners and the overlap handball, all players are given to green light to move the ball with a quick handball, even it it leads to a turnover, we on occasion are happy to slow the ball down and use a switch (something we have done a lot more in the last 2 weeks), we either play man on man, or implement a roaming zone, people forget how dreadful our zone was at the start of last year, it was horrible, players running around pointing their fingers cluelessly - when we occasionally implement a zone now, it looks a lot better. For a team that uses the 'play on' method, often attributed to attacking teams, we also have proven we can apply defensive pressure when we are up and about, so we are not all one way.

This is a game plan we have been playing in various evolving forms for 2 seasons now, and its bloody frustrating when it goes bad, and it can go really bad. But once this group clicks and it becomes second nature to the young guys, look out - the pain, the floggings, and the suddenly giving up 6 goals in 5 minutes will have been worth it.

I hate to say it to the haters, but our game plan is not dissimilar to 3-4 other teams in the comp and its a bloody exciting brand of footy when it comes off. Most people will say they 'Like' watching the Lions.. this is why.

Voss is a good communicator and he is starting to learn from his mistakes - now is not the time to risk destabilising this young group, I also think 1 year puts to much pressure on him as the players, form here he needs 2 years.

 

[matwt73]

So moving Patfull to curb the influence of Enright was a bad move during the Geelong game? Switching Staker forward in the GC game was similar? These are just a couple of recent examples where game day coaching has been far better than before. Perhaps he has the right cattle on the park and is therefore allowed to make such changes.

Would getting Roos be at the expense of Harvey?

This.

Stalkers move forward got us two goals in the first 5 mins after half time. Right move at the right time. I said the same thing about the patfull move.

Bearing in mind also that one of Vossy's key mantras has been versatility it speaks both to his game day coaching and his long term planning.

 

[cjwalkley]

Fairly simplistic, but I'd give Voss two more years as he's on the right track, and go after Jude Bolton and Paul Chapman as new assistants.

Both very smart footballers from the two elite program's from the past decade, get in more successful outside perspective this way.

If Harvey did move on, then look at a 'Ratten' type as the senior assistant.

 

[wantok]

So moving Patfull to curb the influence of Enright was a bad move during the Geelong game? Switching Staker forward in the GC game was similar? These are just a couple of recent examples where game day coaching has been far better than before. Perhaps he has the right cattle on the park and is therefore allowed to make such changes.

Would getting Roos be at the expense of Harvey?

Yes agreed those moves were a sign of improvement and they have both happened in the last month but there were plenty of frustrating times in the years before that when obvious moves were not made and baffling selection decisions were made. While there has been improvement I think Roos could only be a plus and he would provide the expertise that Vossy would have to go elsewhere to be exposed.. His appointment would be at the expense of Harvey who has a couple of years in the club. Time to move on and expose Voss to some more ideas and knowledge from a proven Premiership coach and importantly team builder.

 

[Ceebee]

This.

Stalkers move forward got us two goals in the first 5 mins after half time. Right move at the right time. I said the same thing about the patfull move.

Bearing in mind also that one of Vossy's key mantras has been versatility it speaks both to his game day coaching and his long term planning.

Stakers move forward was good too