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.
