Lions great Michael Voss has extra incentive to lead Carlton to a win at the Gabba

A Lions legend has the task of guiding Carlton to a crucial win in a ‘mini-final’ against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Michael Voss speaks to his Carlton players. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The “fairytale” of Michael Voss eventually returning to Brisbane to again coach the Lions will be replaced on Sunday by the reality of a man desperate to inflict pain on his former club for the sake of Carlton’s AFL finals hopes.

Lions legend and triple premiership-winning captain Voss returns to the Gabba on Sunday for the first time as a head coach since his messy departure from Brisbane in August 2013, when after being told his coaching contract would not be renewed for the following year, left immediately.

He returned to the coaching ranks in 2015 as an assistant to Ken Hinkley at Port Adelaide where he spent seven seasons before taking charge of the Blues ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Under Voss, the Blues have performed admirably, and despite a recent inconsistent run of form, remain on target to play finals football for the first time in nine years.

But that could change for the seventh-placed Blues if they loss to Brisbane on Sunday ahead of tough assignments against Melbourne and Collingwood in the final two weeks of the regular season.

Michael Voss parted ways with the Brisbane Lions in 2013. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“The game and situation itself would lend itself to enough motivation for ‘Vossy’,” said Voss’ former Lions teammate and fellow Brownlow medallist Simon Black.

“(But) it would for him be a nice extra touch to knock off his old team. Vossy’s one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive guys I’ve come across.”

Black was “rapt” that Voss had been given another chance as a head coach.

“Vossy’s a great motivator ... you can see the inspiration he’s given his playing group this year,” Black said.

“He’s gone and done that time with Port Adelaide, and done a great job with the midfield there.

“He earned that right again to have another opportunity as a senior coach, so it’s great to see. It would have been very sad if he hadn’t have got another chance.”

And as for Voss one day coming home to Brisbane to again take charge of the Lions?

“If you talk about fairytales, yes, but that’s be a long way down the track. Carlton was his childhood team,” Black said.

“But there is no doubt he’s a better coach now than before.”

Black described Sunday’s match as a “mini-final” such were the consequences for both teams.

“Brisbane want to finish in the top four so they can’t afford to slip up. They’ve been so strong at home for a long time, so they need to find a way to beat Carlton, who are just as desperate,” he said.

Originally published as Lions great Michael Voss has extra incentive to lead Carlton to a win at the Gabba