MICHAEL Voss has strongly backed Lions skipper Jonathan Brown, saying he has not ruled the champion forward out of playing beyond 2013.

Brown's form has come under plenty of scrutiny this season but Voss says he is pleased with his contribution and has called on the skipper's teammates to help him out.

Brown is in the final year of his contract and has regularly stated he is a year-by-year proposition.

Now 31, and with just 12 goals and 39 marks through seven rounds, the sharks have been slowly circling.

Just last week, former Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls said he felt Brown was "heading towards the end".

But Voss says Brown is doing more than enough to hold his spot, and believes he still has good football in front of him.

"I think he does. While everyone looks at the stats, I thought some of the contests he was involved in on the weekend were just huge and created goals," Voss said.

The Lions coach said Brown was a victim of his enormous success, saying that when he wasn't "taking 12 marks and kicking four goals" he was judged too harshly.

"We obviously want Browny to do that, crash packs, but at the same time, we'd like to put a few on his chest," Voss said.

West Coast defender Eric Mackenzie restricted Brown to five marks, six disposals and two second-half goals on Saturday.

Voss said he had regularly spoken to Brown about his future and was comfortable with his contribution.

"His leadership around the place is second to none, there's not too many greater," he said.

"His influence is huge on these players and the confidence he gives around others is significant.

"When he does get back to 12 marks and four goals a game and those sort of things everyone wants him to be, that'll be the cream on top."

The out-of-contract Voss also backed his current game plan as scrutiny of his position increased, saying the effort against West Coast showed the players had bought in.

He said constant speculation over his contract status was of no consequence.

"We're not shying away from anything, we know what's in front of us," he said.

"There's external noise that happens, but there's just not a space we can live in, you can't afford to.

"Our space is what the next contest is and how we get better from last week to this week and how we plot our next victory."

After almost two years in the wilderness following a knee reconstruction, Voss said there was "every likelihood" versatile tall Brent Staker would play against Essendon on Saturday.

Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting