A day that started with Michael Voss happily chatting about the Brisbane Lions’ AFL finals chances ended with the shock announcement his contract would not be renewed at season’s end.
Certainly Voss didn’t see it coming.
Usually one to keep his cards close to his chest, a chipper Voss was refreshingly candid as he wondered aloud how Essendon’s supplements saga may yet provide a finals back door for his 13th-placed Lions.
He even joked that he looked forward to chewing Jonathan Brown’s ear to try to convince the champion forward to play on in 2014 as he recovered from foot surgery.
No doubt Voss’ mood changed just hours later when the Lions dropped their bombshell.
For the rest of the season assistant Mark Harvey will take over the reins that Voss did not look like relinquishing any time soon.
As their three-time premiership-winning captain, Voss was the Lions’ golden child.
And it seemed his glittering 14-year playing career had earned him more than enough “get of jail free” cards when named as Leigh Matthews’ surprise successor as Lions coach in 2008.
Not that they were needed at first.
In his debut year at the helm the Lions snapped a five-year finals drought by cruising into sixth spot.
What happened next would have spelt the end for any AFL coach – but not Voss.
The Brendan Fevola 2010 deal will be remembered as one of the worst in VFL-AFL history.
Certainly Voss will never forget it.
His first major call as Lions coach cost the club prized players Lachie Henderson, Michael Rischitelli and Daniel Bradshaw – along with his friendship.
Then there was the off-field cost.
A Lions official claimed at the time it would take five years to assemble another premiership player list due to the financial fallout over Bradshaw’s dumping after just one season.
The damage caused was there to see in 2011 when they won just four games – their worst result since their 1998 wooden spoon year.
Again, it was enough to warrant a tap on the shoulder for Voss.
Instead he received a pat on the back, earning a two-year contract extension.
Yet they appeared to have pulled the right rein.
Brisbane racked up 10 wins in 2012 to finish 13th.
And they started this year by taking out the pre-season NAB Cup.
A horror 3-8 season start again had Voss under the gun, with one report claiming he had eight weeks to save his job – a deadline that passed after their round 15 derby clash with the Gold Coast.
Once again Voss survived.
And it seemed that trend would continue at season’s end when the Lions claimed they would review his job.
Brisbane bounced back with five wins in their last eight games including a comeback victory over Geelong.
But Voss’ Midas touch had finally worn off.