FRIENDSHIPS remain as strong as ever between new Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss and his former teammates at the club.

Even if Voss yells at them a lot more.

"But the good thing is he is still your mate. I still call him Vossy," Lions vice-captain Jed Adcock said.

"But when he has to put his foot down and bark some orders he will.

"You know he is not doing it to have a go at you personally.

"It is constructive criticism to make yourself and the team better."

Critics sharpened their knives when three-time premiership skipper Voss was fast-tracked into coaching following the shock departure of Leigh Matthews.

They believed Voss' friendship with the majority of the Lions player list could compromise him as a coach.

But as the Lions prepared for an NAB Cup quarterfinal clash with Essendon at Telstra Dome on Friday night, Adcock was wondering what all the fuss was about.

"Maybe it was a little strange at the start, seeing him walk out as coach," Adcock said.

"But Vossy is a true professional. He wants to get the best out you."

The Lions gave Voss a perfect start to his coaching career - but it was hardly seamless.

He cut a calm figure in the coach's box even as defending premiers St Kilda cut the Lions' 46 point lead down to nine in the dying minutes before Brisbane held on for a first round win at the Gold Coast.

But Voss didn't have to be told the relaxed surrounds of Gold Coast Stadium have nothing on the pressure cooker atmosphere of the AFL.

"The first time nerves weren't too bad, obviously four points weren't hinging on it but you don't want to downplay a win," Voss said.

"We never take that for granted, whether it is a practice match or not we turn up at every game to compete to win."

Voss didn't waste time putting his own stamp on the Lions once handed the reins last September.

As he put a broom through the front office and the player list, he began contact work last November - two months earlier than Matthews.

"Vossy is one of the most aggressive players to play the game," Adcock said.

"That is something that we have tried to focus on heavily, starting our contact work back in November.

"The earlier you can stamp your authority in the aggression and contact on the field the better and I think we showed that against St Kilda."

And unlike his former mentor Matthews, Voss is a hands-on coach.

Indeed he appears to redefine the term.

While most coaches consult medical staff, Voss got an accurate gauge on Simon Black (broken wrist) by personally testing the Brownlow Medallist out in contact work.

"He's going pretty well, he just bullied me around, gave me a bit of a run around - I told him I had been working on those love handles so just go easy," Voss laughed.

"He is on track for the opening round but at the moment he won't get a practice match under his belt."

Jed Adcock scored 51 Toyota AFL Dream Team points in the Brisbane Lion's win over St Kilda in round one of the 2009 NAB Cup.