Voss considers retirement
we don't call him "Master Voss" for nothing. one of the games best and most respected Captains.
source: www.lions.com.au
3:18:05 PM Tue 8 August, 2006
Andrew Browne
Sportal for afl.com.au
BrisbaneLions' captain Michael Voss has given the strongest indication yet that2006 might not only be his last year as skipper, but also as a player.
Hesaid it was "unlikely" a decision would be made prior to round 22, butthe "process is in place" in case his weary body, in particular, anagging knee injury, forces him to give the game away after 15 years atthe highest level and unable to fulfil the final year of his contractin 2007.
The 31-year-old veteran of 286 games concedes heremains in serious doubt for Saturday night's clash against Richmond atTelstra Dome, meaning that he will have played his last game inMelbourne two weeks ago with the loss to Essendon in round 17 at thesame venue.
"It is very likely that these could be my last fourgames. It is a real possibility," Voss told the media on Tuesday inresponse to a newspaper article in The Age speculating this could be his last season.
"Whetherpeople want to be aware of that or not is up to them but, at the end ofthe day, that is what I am thinking might happen.
"You may not see a Michael Voss running around next year, but that's not saying it's not going to happen either."
"That means you play every game, be fit for every game and play every minute," he said.
"Callit ego, but I don't want to finish as a player who only playshalf-a-game (in every match) for the whole year. I want to be able tomake a significant contribution."
The triple-premiershipcaptain's troublesome knee that he has managed so well over the lastthree years is causing him problems again, and that could well be thedetermining factor in his eventual decision.
"I don’t want to be 40 and getting a new knee. That is more my element of thought than anything else," explained Voss.
"Youcan consult with family and friends, teammates and coach and hopefullyI have a choice, but there are still a lot of questions that have notbeen answered in my mind.
"The only person who can answer the question of retirement is yourself."
Vossrevealed he raised the prospect of retirement with the Lions during themid-season break, but he's left the matter with the club and managersso he could concentrate on playing football.
It is believed theLions have been in discussions with the AFL on how to best handle theissue of Voss' retirement because Voss has a year left on his contractwhich is heavily 'backended'.
In the meantime, the Lions mightget a taste of life without their courageous leader sooner rather thanlater as Voss is a doubtful starter for this week against the Tigers.
"Lasttime I came off the Dome I pulled up very average, so it is justevaluating whether it is worth doing it again," said Voss who admittedit was "touch and go" if he would play last week against Geelong.
"It(the knee) is angry and irritated at the moment, so it is just a matterof whether you put it on a surface where it reacts the worst."
Voss indicated the decision on his availability would not be made until selection on Thursday night.
Inother disappointing news, Nigel Lappin's belated bid to return toaction this season is over after requiring a clean-up operation on hisankle which he initially damaged during the pre-season.
source: www.lions.com.au
3:18:05 PM Tue 8 August, 2006
Andrew Browne
Sportal for afl.com.au
BrisbaneLions' captain Michael Voss has given the strongest indication yet that2006 might not only be his last year as skipper, but also as a player.
Hesaid it was "unlikely" a decision would be made prior to round 22, butthe "process is in place" in case his weary body, in particular, anagging knee injury, forces him to give the game away after 15 years atthe highest level and unable to fulfil the final year of his contractin 2007.
The 31-year-old veteran of 286 games concedes heremains in serious doubt for Saturday night's clash against Richmond atTelstra Dome, meaning that he will have played his last game inMelbourne two weeks ago with the loss to Essendon in round 17 at thesame venue.
"It is very likely that these could be my last fourgames. It is a real possibility," Voss told the media on Tuesday inresponse to a newspaper article in The Age speculating this could be his last season.
"Whetherpeople want to be aware of that or not is up to them but, at the end ofthe day, that is what I am thinking might happen.
"You may not see a Michael Voss running around next year, but that's not saying it's not going to happen either."
"That means you play every game, be fit for every game and play every minute," he said.
"Callit ego, but I don't want to finish as a player who only playshalf-a-game (in every match) for the whole year. I want to be able tomake a significant contribution."
The triple-premiershipcaptain's troublesome knee that he has managed so well over the lastthree years is causing him problems again, and that could well be thedetermining factor in his eventual decision.
"I don’t want to be 40 and getting a new knee. That is more my element of thought than anything else," explained Voss.
"Youcan consult with family and friends, teammates and coach and hopefullyI have a choice, but there are still a lot of questions that have notbeen answered in my mind.
"The only person who can answer the question of retirement is yourself."
Vossrevealed he raised the prospect of retirement with the Lions during themid-season break, but he's left the matter with the club and managersso he could concentrate on playing football.
It is believed theLions have been in discussions with the AFL on how to best handle theissue of Voss' retirement because Voss has a year left on his contractwhich is heavily 'backended'.
In the meantime, the Lions mightget a taste of life without their courageous leader sooner rather thanlater as Voss is a doubtful starter for this week against the Tigers.
"Lasttime I came off the Dome I pulled up very average, so it is justevaluating whether it is worth doing it again," said Voss who admittedit was "touch and go" if he would play last week against Geelong.
"It(the knee) is angry and irritated at the moment, so it is just a matterof whether you put it on a surface where it reacts the worst."
Voss indicated the decision on his availability would not be made until selection on Thursday night.
Inother disappointing news, Nigel Lappin's belated bid to return toaction this season is over after requiring a clean-up operation on hisankle which he initially damaged during the pre-season.