Brisbane coach Michael Voss prepares to talk to his players in the NAB Cup match against Collingwood. Picture: Robert Prezioso. Source: Getty Images
BRISBANE coach Michael Voss has been to war with - and against - former teammate and North Melbourne counterpart Brad Scott.
So he knows what is in store for the Lions today when they face the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium.
The winless North Melbourne have their backs to the wall after three rounds and Voss expects nothing but a dogfight.
Voss and Scott played in three grand finals together for two wins (2001 and 2002) during Brisbane's glory years but they also went toe-to-toe when the rugged defender was with Hawthorn.
Scott tagged Voss in Round 3, 1997 and kept the Brisbane captain to a below-par 15 touches in the Hawks' 12-point win at Waverley.
"Brad had a good day on me that day. Actually, he had a great day," Voss recalled.
"If there is any truth in the theory that a team takes on the characteristics of their coach then we expect North to really lock in with some determination.
"They will know their job and they won't be afraid of their job. That's what you expect from a Brad Scott-coached team.
"It's our challenge to match that."
Voss said the Kangaroos' 0-3 record was not an indication of North Melbourne's quality. They have faced the last three premiers (Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney) and pushed them all to the limit.
Memories of the Round 9 loss to the Kangas last year are also fresh in his memory. North Melbourne flew out of the gates and had the four points wrapped up early despite a late rally from Brisbane.
"You just have to look at the quality of their opposition to know that North are a good football side. They did play finals last year so you have to respect the way they go about things," he said.
"Our guys should feel confident after coming off a win last week but we also very much understand that we need to get on our bikes early and get our workrate up straight away.
"You always have to expect that the opposition will come out with their best footy and given the circumstances, that is especially the case this weekend.
"We know there will be periods when they have the momentum but we have to stand there and take blow after blow and hang on as long as we can before we get our chance to land a few blows on them.''
Voss is excited about what debutant Marco Paprone will bring to the Brisbane forward line. The 18-year-old from WA is 194cm tall and can run like the wind. He has been likened to St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt for his hard-running and marking ability.
"He runs at a good clip, often. The number of contests he is able to get to is quite amazing actually," Voss said.
"We have been impressed with how he has gone about his training from day one and we'd like to think he will be a part of our forward line for a long time."
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