Coach Michael Voss - Stats, history, articles, videos

[BlueBlood15]

Would love to have a chat with Matthew Kennedy and see what he feels the difference is between coaching and club culture is. Bulldogs and Beveridge have obviously had their fair share of dramas over the years as well as this year but are still producing good football. Injuries and JUH, this year, but their game plan stacks up, same effort every game, you know they're going to fight it out.
They have also gotten rid of some quality players over the last few years which is a bit of a statement showing that the club is bigger than the ego

We have too many conditional footballers and have done for years and we just accept it. If Voss wants to hit players with a big stick, the club needs to support it, problem is I don't think he is that sort of person and it shows in his selection and on field tactics.

The red flag for me was round 1, we should never have lost that game and that falls squarely on his shoulders that he could not see what was happening.

Your second paragraph is what really interests me and ultimately comes back to having a strong Head of Football which I believe we don’t have.

A strong Head of Football would identify the issue with conditional players alongside the senior coach and provide the mandate and support for the coach to weed these players out. The list manager would also be brought into the mix to execute trades where necessary.

Of course this really only works if the coach knows what he’s doing but again the coach was picked by a committee involving the Head of Football and the Head of Football is responsible for reviewing the senior coach and recommending changes if performance is not good enough.

While I don’t doubt or try to take away from the responsibility of those under the Head of Football (coaches, list management, players, etc), it is clear to me that Brad Lloyd cannot get this football department functioning at a high level and has not been able to do so for coming on 7 years in August.

My hope and expectation is that Wright, as one of the best heads of football over the past 10 years, can clean this mess up.

 

[Blue Pulse]

I rate Bevo as close to the best progressive coach going around. Blokes like McCrae and Scott get so much kudos, yet are blessed with experience and leadership in their playing ranks that was developed independent from the vaunted mentors. They have successfully harnessed the assets they have, but have had a myriad of help from within.

Bevo had the ability to harness a young group to produce an unlikely flag early in his tenure and has walked a path since which has seen phases of his teams development. Somewhat a changing of the guard and many changes in the game precipitated by changes in umpiring interpretation as well as coaching and game style variations.

Bevo had the foresight to see the direction the game was taking. We moved from a pure contested model, to a version incorporating distributing “seagulls” to break lines. Now there is a need for those guys to be playmakers and considerably smarter and more creative. We are seeing a growing number of players transitioning from that half back runner/distributor to genuine midfield roles and creating space across the park.

Bevo saw the game move from accumulators like Daniel and McCrae that are/were high volume, but low impact players. They were taking up space which needed to be given to more dynamic players. He has modified some midfielder roles, incorporated some “no-name” runners from state leagues and elevated the likes of Richards to more pivotal roles after a decent apprenticeship.

Dealing with the Ugle-Hagan dramas and other set backs to his playing group has produced a largely seamless development of game style. Having the courage to demote higher rated players to achieve long term goals is so very admirable where most other coaches back in their leaders to get the job done week after week.

Not sure he is a visionary changing the game, but he is a modern student and has kept up with trends and is aware of what is successful. It is astounding he remains uncontracted at the dogs. An ability to recognise and move with the times is priceless.

Voss has so many admirable qualities. His blind faith in his contested game will be the end of him. He is simply unable to adapt to the modern game in a sustained way. We have had a number of Indian Summers where we play a more expansive game, but we then try to drag it back and reincorporate the contest element as the over riding factor.

To be fair, should we make finals and have the list healthy, the Voss way may in fact be a valuable weapon in finals footy. More likely a balanced game plan will be the avenue to success.

No one wants to jettison another senior coach, especially a good guy with many redeeming qualities, but I am vonvinced he must go. Even if he were to embrace “modern football”, it is dubious we could recruit enough quality assistants to teach our group to play the required style of footy. If there is an individual out there who can turn things around, upskill our connection and make us consistently competitive with the best, he is not coming for a bit part under a bloke who consistently reverts to type and on past performance will struggle to embrace the model.

Changing the assistants alone is not an option, Vossy is too set in his views. Our footy is unsustainable and we must embrace the game as it is. The likes of Jagga and Cody coming in next year need to be incorporated in a way that changes up our game. They cannot be alone, they will need a lot of help and our leaders will still lead, but they need modified roles structurally. We do not want our shiny new toys to be fashioned in to more blunt instruments. We need spears, not more hammers.

Brilliant summation.

I have really come to admire how Bevo has gone about his job as he cops his fair whack from the press.

With regards to Voss, I was really hoping to see something a little different this year, but it hasn't eventuated as yet. I'm hoping he can turn things around, but at this stage it is really tough to see a light at the end of the tunnel which is reflected in the way the players are playing the game.

 

[Blue Pulse]

That may be better this season but they've had issues over the last several years and most feel they've underperformed considering their list. Beveridge has done well to keep his seat there.

Maybe, they have been there abouts, more often than not. They have gotten rid of good players but have maintained a decent level of football.
We have a half decent list but struggle to find a consistency. I still go to games not knowing what this team is going to produce, is the the "good effort" side or the, "can't be bothered today" side?

 

[blue healer]

This is 100% correct...

How is it fixed?? Pretty simple, to be honest!

Leaders (players) should be regulating this issue and dealing with it...

No. If we have players that aren't committed (and I don't want to believe that) then it isn't leaders who should be dealing with it. It's our coaching staff and selection panel.

Anyone who isn't fully committed to the team should be dropped, regardless of their name and who we're forced bring in.

Ludicrous to think that uncommitted players will change if they're rewarded by selection at the top level.

We can't do any worse than lose by doing this and we've been doing plenty of that lately.

Rewarding bad behaviour is just plain dumb.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

If we have players that aren't committed

Problem is those that do just enough to get by.

 

[blue healer]

Problem is those that do just enough to get by.

Just enough to get by is probably ok if you're bottom six in a top four team but not in a team that's struggling like us.

Be interesting to see the selections tonight.

Perhaps the coaches are just as comfortable as those players and are also just doing enough to get by.

 

[Bluebag13]

I rate Bevo as close to the best progressive coach going around. Blokes like McCrae and Scott get so much kudos, yet are blessed with experience and leadership in their playing ranks that was developed independent from the vaunted mentors. They have successfully harnessed the assets they have, but have had a myriad of help from within.

Bevo had the ability to harness a young group to produce an unlikely flag early in his tenure and has walked a path since which has seen phases of his teams development. Somewhat a changing of the guard and many changes in the game precipitated by changes in umpiring interpretation as well as coaching and game style variations.

Bevo had the foresight to see the direction the game was taking. We moved from a pure contested model, to a version incorporating distributing “seagulls” to break lines. Now there is a need for those guys to be playmakers and considerably smarter and more creative. We are seeing a growing number of players transitioning from that half back runner/distributor to genuine midfield roles and creating space across the park.

Bevo saw the game move from accumulators like Daniel and McCrae that are/were high volume, but low impact players. They were taking up space which needed to be given to more dynamic players. He has modified some midfielder roles, incorporated some “no-name” runners from state leagues and elevated the likes of Richards to more pivotal roles after a decent apprenticeship.

Dealing with the Ugle-Hagan dramas and other set backs to his playing group has produced a largely seamless development of game style. Having the courage to demote higher rated players to achieve long term goals is so very admirable where most other coaches back in their leaders to get the job done week after week.

Not sure he is a visionary changing the game, but he is a modern student and has kept up with trends and is aware of what is successful. It is astounding he remains uncontracted at the dogs. An ability to recognise and move with the times is priceless.

Voss has so many admirable qualities. His blind faith in his contested game will be the end of him. He is simply unable to adapt to the modern game in a sustained way. We have had a number of Indian Summers where we play a more expansive game, but we then try to drag it back and reincorporate the contest element as the over riding factor.

To be fair, should we make finals and have the list healthy, the Voss way may in fact be a valuable weapon in finals footy. More likely a balanced game plan will be the avenue to success.

No one wants to jettison another senior coach, especially a good guy with many redeeming qualities, but I am vonvinced he must go. Even if he were to embrace “modern football”, it is dubious we could recruit enough quality assistants to teach our group to play the required style of footy. If there is an individual out there who can turn things around, upskill our connection and make us consistently competitive with the best, he is not coming for a bit part under a bloke who consistently reverts to type and on past performance will struggle to embrace the model.

Changing the assistants alone is not an option, Vossy is too set in his views. Our footy is unsustainable and we must embrace the game as it is. The likes of Jagga and Cody coming in next year need to be incorporated in a way that changes up our game. They cannot be alone, they will need a lot of help and our leaders will still lead, but they need modified roles structurally. We do not want our shiny new toys to be fashioned in to more blunt instruments. We need spears, not more hammers.

I'm not convinced that we need to get rid of Voss and dont necessarily agree with you.
But this was a great post! Well said.

 

[JK61]

I rate Bevo as close to the best progressive coach going around. Blokes like McCrae and Scott get so much kudos, yet are blessed with experience and leadership in their playing ranks that was developed independent from the vaunted mentors. They have successfully harnessed the assets they have, but have had a myriad of help from within.

Bevo had the ability to harness a young group to produce an unlikely flag early in his tenure and has walked a path since which has seen phases of his teams development. Somewhat a changing of the guard and many changes in the game precipitated by changes in umpiring interpretation as well as coaching and game style variations.

Bevo had the foresight to see the direction the game was taking. We moved from a pure contested model, to a version incorporating distributing “seagulls” to break lines. Now there is a need for those guys to be playmakers and considerably smarter and more creative. We are seeing a growing number of players transitioning from that half back runner/distributor to genuine midfield roles and creating space across the park.

Bevo saw the game move from accumulators like Daniel and McCrae that are/were high volume, but low impact players. They were taking up space which needed to be given to more dynamic players. He has modified some midfielder roles, incorporated some “no-name” runners from state leagues and elevated the likes of Richards to more pivotal roles after a decent apprenticeship.

Dealing with the Ugle-Hagan dramas and other set backs to his playing group has produced a largely seamless development of game style. Having the courage to demote higher rated players to achieve long term goals is so very admirable where most other coaches back in their leaders to get the job done week after week.

Not sure he is a visionary changing the game, but he is a modern student and has kept up with trends and is aware of what is successful. It is astounding he remains uncontracted at the dogs. An ability to recognise and move with the times is priceless.

Voss has so many admirable qualities. His blind faith in his contested game will be the end of him. He is simply unable to adapt to the modern game in a sustained way. We have had a number of Indian Summers where we play a more expansive game, but we then try to drag it back and reincorporate the contest element as the over riding factor.

To be fair, should we make finals and have the list healthy, the Voss way may in fact be a valuable weapon in finals footy. More likely a balanced game plan will be the avenue to success.

No one wants to jettison another senior coach, especially a good guy with many redeeming qualities, but I am vonvinced he must go. Even if he were to embrace “modern football”, it is dubious we could recruit enough quality assistants to teach our group to play the required style of footy. If there is an individual out there who can turn things around, upskill our connection and make us consistently competitive with the best, he is not coming for a bit part under a bloke who consistently reverts to type and on past performance will struggle to embrace the model.

Changing the assistants alone is not an option, Vossy is too set in his views. Our footy is unsustainable and we must embrace the game as it is. The likes of Jagga and Cody coming in next year need to be incorporated in a way that changes up our game. They cannot be alone, they will need a lot of help and our leaders will still lead, but they need modified roles structurally. We do not want our shiny new toys to be fashioned in to more blunt instruments. We need spears, not more hammers.

IIRC plenty of Dogs supporters wanted Bevo sacked last year.

 

[Will_Hayward]

IIRC plenty of Dogs supporters wanted Bevo sacked last year.

Regularly played finals, but never finished top four after H&A. Personnel and culture issues would have me wary. Better options are available if we go that route.

 

[Accidental genius]

I rate Bevo as close to the best progressive coach going around. Blokes like McCrae and Scott get so much kudos, yet are blessed with experience and leadership in their playing ranks that was developed independent from the vaunted mentors. They have successfully harnessed the assets they have, but have had a myriad of help from within.

Bevo had the ability to harness a young group to produce an unlikely flag early in his tenure and has walked a path since which has seen phases of his teams development. Somewhat a changing of the guard and many changes in the game precipitated by changes in umpiring interpretation as well as coaching and game style variations.

Bevo had the foresight to see the direction the game was taking. We moved from a pure contested model, to a version incorporating distributing “seagulls” to break lines. Now there is a need for those guys to be playmakers and considerably smarter and more creative. We are seeing a growing number of players transitioning from that half back runner/distributor to genuine midfield roles and creating space across the park.

Bevo saw the game move from accumulators like Daniel and McCrae that are/were high volume, but low impact players. They were taking up space which needed to be given to more dynamic players. He has modified some midfielder roles, incorporated some “no-name” runners from state leagues and elevated the likes of Richards to more pivotal roles after a decent apprenticeship.

Dealing with the Ugle-Hagan dramas and other set backs to his playing group has produced a largely seamless development of game style. Having the courage to demote higher rated players to achieve long term goals is so very admirable where most other coaches back in their leaders to get the job done week after week.

Not sure he is a visionary changing the game, but he is a modern student and has kept up with trends and is aware of what is successful. It is astounding he remains uncontracted at the dogs. An ability to recognise and move with the times is priceless.

Voss has so many admirable qualities. His blind faith in his contested game will be the end of him. He is simply unable to adapt to the modern game in a sustained way. We have had a number of Indian Summers where we play a more expansive game, but we then try to drag it back and reincorporate the contest element as the over riding factor.

To be fair, should we make finals and have the list healthy, the Voss way may in fact be a valuable weapon in finals footy. More likely a balanced game plan will be the avenue to success.

No one wants to jettison another senior coach, especially a good guy with many redeeming qualities, but I am vonvinced he must go. Even if he were to embrace “modern football”, it is dubious we could recruit enough quality assistants to teach our group to play the required style of footy. If there is an individual out there who can turn things around, upskill our connection and make us consistently competitive with the best, he is not coming for a bit part under a bloke who consistently reverts to type and on past performance will struggle to embrace the model.

Changing the assistants alone is not an option, Vossy is too set in his views. Our footy is unsustainable and we must embrace the game as it is. The likes of Jagga and Cody coming in next year need to be incorporated in a way that changes up our game. They cannot be alone, they will need a lot of help and our leaders will still lead, but they need modified roles structurally. We do not want our shiny new toys to be fashioned in to more blunt instruments. We need spears, not more hammers.

Bevo and fly are the two current day coaches that seem to have a really good modern game style and both are good with game day strategies...

Bevo has kept that side in contention just every year since joining the dogs in 2015...flag in his second year (2016) and overall hes made finals 7 times and very likely will be top 6 or at least top 8 this season.

Fly - started coaching 2022 season and he took them from 17th to 4th in his first year. won flag in 2023. Very linear progression and a convincing one at that. Will very likely feature in finals this season as well.

Compared to Vossy - 2022 9th, 2023 5th, 2024 just fell into the 8 by a bees dick thanks to port beating hawks and this year very very unlikley to make top 8.

Comparing filth to blues - we have more talent but fly has done way better with less.

 

[Jatz]

Bevo and fly are the two current day coaches that seem to have a really good modern game style and both are good with game day strategies...

Bevo has kept that side in contention just every year since joining the dogs in 2015...flag in his second year (2016) and overall hes made finals 7 times and very likely will be top 6 or at least top 8 this season.

Fly - started coaching 2022 season and he took them from 17th to 4th in his first year. won flag in 2023. Very linear progression and a convincing one at that. Will very likely feature in finals this season as well.

Compared to Vossy - 2022 9th, 2023 5th, 2024 just fell into the 8 by a bees dick thanks to port beating hawks and this year very very unlikley to make top 8.

Comparing filth to blues - we have more talent but fly has done way better with less.

Obviously no way of proving that but I have some serious doubts about that.

 

[Accidental genius]

Obviously no way of proving that but I have some serious doubts about that.

look no further than Cripps, H, Charlie, weiters, walsh

Thats 5 stars straight off the bat before considering the B graders like Cerra Newman doc saad mcgov etc

 

[Jatz]

look no further than Cripps, H, Charlie, weiters, walsh

Thats 5 stars straight off the bat before considering the B graders like Cerra Newman doc saad mcgov etc

You can do the same with Collingwood though.

I didn't dispute we had talent, just that we were more talented.

 

[Jatz]

Also if we're considering McGov a B grader, we are severely overrating our list.

 

[Accidental genius]

Also if we're considering McGov a B grader, we are severely overrating our list.

I dont think there is any doubt he is talented - its more he doesn't seem to want to apply himself 100% - ie, conditional type.

 

[goreds]

No. If we have players that aren't committed (and I don't want to believe that) then it isn't leaders who should be dealing with it. It's our coaching staff and selection panel.

Anyone who isn't fully committed to the team should be dropped, regardless of their name and who we're forced bring in.

Ludicrous to think that uncommitted players will change if they're rewarded by selection at the top level.

We can't do any worse than lose by doing this and we've been doing plenty of that lately.

Rewarding bad behaviour is just plain dumb.

I think you missed my point...

The leaders need to deal with it..

We haven't had a strong leadership group since '95...

This is my point, how do you think Sticks, Williams and Bradley dealt with these issues?? Yes, it's a different time but the principal is still the same.

'Pull your ****ing head in and tow the party line, or you're out'.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I dont think there is any doubt he is talented - its more he doesn't seem to want to apply himself 100% - ie, conditional type.

He’s not conditional. He $#1ts the bed and he doesn’t know how to ‘defend’.

 

[Accidental genius]

He’s not conditional. He $#1ts the bed and he doesn’t know how to ‘defend’.

Yeah he isnt a natural defending type...makes some silly looking mistakes (against tiggies )

He's more of a natural forward - good with hands and read on play and hence why we're playing him as an intercepting mark.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Yeah he isnt a natural defending type...makes some silly looking mistakes (against tiggies )

He's more of a natural forward - good with hands and read on play and hence why we're playing him as an intercepting mark.

The problem with playing him forward was, that opposition put body on him and he didn’t get near it. Everyone knew it.
He does my head in.

 

[Stamos]

He’s not conditional. He $#1ts the bed and he doesn’t know how to ‘defend’.

I don't agree with this at all.
Gov defended very well against the Cats. He's capable.
But he does not put in every week.

 

[SurreyBlue]

I don't agree with this at all.
Gov defended very well against the Cats. He's capable.
But he does not put in every week.

1 game in 8 and was placed against a small.

 

[BlueTongue]

Outside of culture, Matt Kennedy is an easy one. He is played in the right position of midfield / half forward and killing it, as some expected.

And left on the ground for more than 10 mins.
To be fair, He & Hewett were up against one another for the same spot and the change has done them both well.
I wonder when we are going to start looking seriously at a long term replacement for Cripps.
I don't see Lord being strong enough or footy-smart enough to handle Crippa's role.

 

[BlueTongue]

"Bevo had the foresight to see the direction the game was taking. We moved from a pure contested model, to a version incorporating distributing “seagulls” to break lines. Now there is a need for those guys to be playmakers and considerably smarter and more creative. We are seeing a growing number of players transitioning from that half back runner/distributor to genuine midfield roles and creating space across the park. "

...SNIP

And doesn't it drive us nuts watching all those seagulls around a contest with absolutely no awareness of OP players waiting out back for the loose ball. Got to be more strategic with the numbers at the contest.

..."Voss has so many admirable qualities. His blind faith in his contested game will be the end of him. He is simply unable to adapt to the modern game in a sustained way. We have had a number of Indian Summers where we play a more expansive game, but we then try to drag it back and reincorporate the contest element as the over riding factor."

I think the point someone else made a few weeks ago is that he cant move on from the contested game because we have no speedsters or playmakers. I actually think that given the team we field we are better off backing our contested play because we cant go with other teams playing loose. I think Jagga Smith will be a good playmaker but we desperately need some speedy ball carriers in the mould of Bailey Smith.

 

[BlueTongue]

The red flag for me was round 1, we should never have lost that game and that falls squarely on his shoulders that he could not see what was happening.

It was a really bad and embarrassing loss - particular it being your first game for the season.

You come out of preseason where you had all that time to train strength/fitness/endurance etc and also refine your game plan and you lose to the potential cellar dwellers who had played with a bunch of newbies

I've mentioned it before, but I was at the game and I could (no bull) actually see it on their faces in the first Qtr that they were not switched on and there were a few that looked like they Didnt want to be there (Harry, Motlop the most obvious), in Round 1 FFS!!

It really did shock me big time and I'm still not completely over it (and nothing against the Tigers, they played with the heart we should have had). Adelaide was another sign that there's more to it. I mean, how does a whole side switch off and just go 'Meh' when their whole existence is based around winning a flag.

A Poor Culture is still a big factor it seems to be to me.

 

[BlueTongue]

Bevo and fly are the two current day coaches that seem to have a really good modern game style and both are good with game day strategies...

Bevo has kept that side in contention just every year since joining the dogs in 2015...flag in his second year (2016) and overall hes made finals 7 times and very likely will be top 6 or at least top 8 this season.

Fly - started coaching 2022 season and he took them from 17th to 4th in his first year. won flag in 2023. Very linear progression and a convincing one at that. Will very likely feature in finals this season as well.

Compared to Vossy - 2022 9th, 2023 5th, 2024 just fell into the 8 by a bees dick thanks to port beating hawks and this year very very unlikley to make top 8.

Comparing filth to blues - we have more talent but fly has done way better with less.

Agree with all of the above, but he's too patronisingly 'Nice' for me. Nothing bothers him, he kisses babies, and rescues damsels in distress, and wears a superman cape, but somewhere under that Zen exterior I cant help but think there's a Hulk waiting to break out, and when a few things start NOT to go his way we'll see the real McRae. Who knows, I might be looking for a tall poppy.

And as for Darcy Moore, If I have to watch the vision of the Collingwood huddle before the first bounce one more time, of his big looming Moon face, and his overbearing facial expressions, right up in his team-mates grills, I'll vomit.

I'm surprised his teammates dont just shove that moon head outta their way.