New Lions coach Voss eyeing Nick Davis - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

New Lions coach Voss eyeing Nick Davis

By Jim Morton 12/11/2008 08:11:01 PM Comments (0)

The Brisbane Lions are poised to offer axed Sydney forward Nick Davis an AFL lifeline.

New Lions coach Michael Voss revealed he was keen to speak to the delisted Davis to have a bona fide goalscoring alternative to the twin towers of Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.

The mercurial 28-year-old played only three senior games for the Swans due to indifferent early form and a season-ending knee injury.

Negotiations are at an early stage but Voss indicated the Lions were interested in picking Davis up through next month's pre-season draft.

"We've had a preliminary chat with Nick about perhaps the chance to come up here and train," Voss said.

"That is a distinct possibility.

"What we do have as a football team, we do have a need for that type of player so we're looking at all and every possibility of how we do that."

Davis was a proven match-winner for the Swans and key figure in their drive to the 2005 premiership, including a match-winning hand in a preliminary final comeback against Geelong.

Although his work-ethic was questioned at Sydney and coach Paul Roos lost patience, Voss needs accuracy and creativity in front of goals where Brown and Bradshaw received little support.

The Lions were among the most inaccurate clubs in 2008 with their woeful conversion a major reason for their late season fadeout which cost them a place in the finals.

Voss reiterated club chief executive Michael Bowers' sentiments that the Lions' door wasn't shut to former Eagles star Ben Cousins but would give little else away about Brisbane genuine interest.

The former triple-premiership-winning skipper, who oversaw his first full group training session on Wednesday, said the onus was on his rising crop of youngsters to "go to the next level".

Voss identified the talented but injury-plagued tall Mitch Clark as one with great potential.

"Long term he can be a pretty productive tool for us," the rookie coach said.

"As a match committee what we're tossing up at the moment, whether as a centre half-back or whether he plays as a third tall.

"He gives great agility and great aerial power."

Voss has demanded that his troops be in better shape at the start of the pre-season than they were under Leigh Matthews.

"It was important for us because what we wanted to achieve at this point of the year is quite critical and considering we're putting in some new things and a new game style they needed to be more ready to move the ball than quicker in the past."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news