Michael Voss
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Michael Voss (born July 7, 1975) is an Australian rules footballer, usually playing midfield or in the forward line for Australian Football League team the Brisbane Lions. At only 183cm, he is renowned for his hardness at the ball and the ability to turn a game by his presence at the contest.
He was born in Traralgon, Victoria and lived as a child in Orbost until the age of 11, when he moved with his family to Brisbane.
His football skills were self-evident from an early age, kicking 14 goals in a single game for his home state of Queensland in an under-17 representative match in 1992. The following week he debuted for the Brisbane Bears against Fitzroy at Princes Park in Melbourne, the youngest ever player to play a senior game for the club.
Although highly skilled, he was also slight, but worked as hard as any veteran in getting the most out of his body. By 1996 was one of the most accomplished players in the competition, and at the end of the season he shared the Brownlow Medal, the games highest individual honour, with James Hird.
In 1997 after the Bears merged with Fitzroy to form the Brisbane Lions and the retirement of long-term Bears captain Roger Merrett, Voss's leadership abilities were recognised in his promotion to co-captain with teammate Alastair Lynch at the age of just 21. His early form was patchy as he grew into the role, but by 1999 he was being lauded as one of the best captains in the AFL.
In 1998 he suffered his first major career setback. Contesting a mark at Subiaco Oval in Perth, he collided with an opponent and shattered his leg. The subsequent operation inserted a steel rod in his leg to stabilise the bone, and it was ten months before he was fit enough to play again.
Voss captained the Brisbane Lions to four consecutive AFL Grand Finals, yielding three premierships premierships (2001-2003). His performance in the 2002 grand final against Collingwood was an outstanding example of courage, skill and leadership, only narrowly conceding the Norm Smith Medal to opposing captain Nathan Buckley [link].
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