Triple Brisbane Lions premiership captain Michael Voss will join the West Coast Eagles as an assistant coach.

 

Voss has agreed to a two-year deal and will begin working with the club when pre-season training kicks off in November, committing to the West Coast Eagles cause for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. 

 

"I have made a decision to pursue a coaching career and after two years out of AFL football I'm really excited about the prospect of joining the Eagles,” Voss said.

 

"They are a club I've always admired and John Worsfold is a person of the highest integrity. I look forward to working under him and learning the workings of another AFL club from the inside.”

 

In making this decision Voss rejected an offer from the AFL to be the foundation coach of the new Gold Coast club for its entry to the AFL in 2011.

 

Voss explained that the length of the term offered by the AFL - a three-year deal which included only one year as an AFL club - had been the sticking point in his decision.

 

"If I was going to accept the Gold Coast job I wanted to know I was going to be able to have a really good crack at it," he explained.

 

"I asked for an extended period but it wasn't to be. I understand and accept that.

 

"I want to thank the AFL and members of their GC17 bid team for their interest and wish the Gold Coast all the best. There's no doubt it is a fantastic initiative and I'm sure it will be successful."