Brisbane great Chris Johnson says Lions players, not coach Michael Voss, are responsible for the AFL club’s lack of progress.

After bottom-four finishes in the past two years, the Lions are currently 14th following big losses to Geelong, Essendon and Collingwood in the past three rounds.

But Johnson, who played in three Brisbane premierships under Voss’ captaincy, said the uncompetitive performances should not be sheeted home to the coach.

“I’m convinced Vossy’s doing the best that he possibly could do,” Johnson told AAP on Tuesday.

“But at some stage or another a playing group’s got to take some ownership as well.”

Johnson’s views echo those of Lions chairman Angus Johnson, who recently backed Voss and questioned whether the club’s players were showing enough commitment.

Chris Johnson said there had been a few players step up to support veteran stars Jonathan Brown and Simon Black, but the younger squad members were not pulling their weight.

“It’s the next tier group that needs to step up, the guys that have been drafted in the last three years that need to step up and start delivering,” he said.

Sunday’s Gabba clash with a Greater Western Sydney team buoyed by their inaugural win shapes as crucial.

“It’s a massive game,” Johnson said.

“They’ve got a great opportunity to nip all that criticism of Vossy in the bud.”