TRIBUTES were still flowing for his glittering playing career when Michael Voss boldly backed himself as a coach.

In June 2007, a happily retired Voss had taken centre stage at his tribute luncheon but it was clear there was still a fire in his belly.

Voss' highlights reel on the big screen had barely concluded when the host mentioned the popular theory that ex-players should serve an apprenticeship before becoming an AFL head coach.

"I'm just glad I don't live by other people's limits or beliefs," Voss said defiantly. "If you are there and ready, then do it."

Voss' supreme self-belief will be put to the test in 2009.

Replacing the legendary Leigh Matthews as Lions coach is tough enough. Fast-tracking the Lions prodigal son into the top job is something else entirely.

Throw in expectation from the club, fans and sponsors following the three-time premier's four –year finals drought and ... well, you get the picture.

But it seems it pales in comparison to the bar Voss has set himself.

"I have high expectations of myself. They are probably higher than what the general public expects," Voss told AAP.

"That's just the way I go about things. And at the end of the day if that isn't good enough in whatever year that is, then that's the case.

"All you can do is try your best. If you do that and it is not good enough then you go away and say, 'I tried'."

Voss certainly didn't waste time putting his own stamp on the Lions when handed the reins in September.

He took a broom through the front office and the roster.

He appointed Jonathan Brown as sole captain and dished out deputy badges to Luke Power, Simon Black, Jed Adcock and Daniel Merrett – elevating the latter pair to the leadership group.

He began contact work last November – two months earlier than Matthews.

And Voss made it clear from the start he would be very much a hands-on coach.

Voss is involved in everything in training. He dives around among the senior players in a skill drill. He kicks the footy to his draftees.

An injured Simon Black needs some strength tests as he recovers from a fractured wrist – so Voss unleashes a series of vicious bumps on his prized Brownlow medallist.

"It beats sitting in an office," Voss said of his approach.

It is clear being mates with the Lions players has helped Voss in his new role.

Midfielder Adcock insisted he and his new coach were still good chums; it's just that Voss yells a bit more.

Voss' introduction has not been seamless.

Young forward Rhan Hooper was fined $40,000 in the pre-season for multiple breaches of his playing contract. Albert Proud was suspended over an alleged bottle-throwing incident, in which a woman's face was cut.

And injury ensured a disrupted pre-season for Black and No. 1 ruckman Jamie Charman (knee).

However, Voss can only see positives – especially after his awaited coaching debut was celebrated by a victory, albeit after a nervous end.

Despite leading by 46 points early in the third quarter, the Lions scraped home by nine against St Kilda in the opening round of the NAB Cup.

And at first glance the hallmarks of Voss the coach will be similar to Voss the player.

The Lions attacked the ball, tackled hard and handballed often and well – much like the three-time premiership skipper in his prime.

Asked what would be a realistic expectation for the Lions this year, Voss said: "It's tough to predict – we've got plenty to prove".

But Voss isn't the only burly, multi-flag-winning midfielder in the Lions limelight for 2009.

The buzz surrounding top draft pick Daniel Rich – a two-time WAFL premiership player at just 18 – is growing so much that Voss has already slapped a media ban on him.

"He's going to get a fair bit of that (pressure)," Voss said.

"Obviously he has been talked about for a little while but there is no more pressure on Daniel than the pressure he puts on himself."

Sound familiar?

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.