The Australian Football Hall of Fame recognises and enshrines those players, coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives who have made a significant contribution to Australian Football - at any level - since the game's inception in 1858.
Significantly, Voss becomes the first ever inductee to have played with a Queensland-based AFL Club (Brisbane Bears/Lions) and joins only a select number of former Club greats to be immortalised in this exclusive group.
Voss said his induction ranks among his most treasured individual achievements in football together with his five Club Champion awards and 1996 Brownlow Medal.
"It is a truly humbling honour to be inducted into such a esteemed group of AFL greats," Voss said.
"As a passionate Queenslander, to be the first Brisbane Lions player recognised in the Hall of Fame is also something very special."
"I have been fortunate to be part of a fantastic Football Club throughout my career and surrounded by some wonderful players - many of whom I'm sure will be part of this group one day."
Lions Chairman Angus Johnson said Voss' induction proved a monumental achievement for one of the Club's favourite sons.
"On behalf of the Brisbane Lions Board and our entire organisation, I would like to congratulate Michael Voss, his wife Donna and their family on this outstanding and historic achievement," Mr Johnson said.
"It's self evident that Michael was the greatest player the Brisbane Lions has produced. But he is also a tremendous ambassador, not only for our Club, but also the game of AFL
in Queensland and Australia."
"As the first Brisbane Lions player to be inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame, Michael Voss should be seen by every young Queenslander as a shining example of what can be achieved, should they be willing to work as hard as he did," he said.
Voss was born in the country Victorian town of Traralgon, but moved to Queensland with his family at the age of 11 and soon became earmarked as a future AFL star after dominating against bigger bodies as an under-age player with local club Morningside.
He was promptly drafted to the Bears as a Queensland Zone Selection at the end of 1991 and made an immediate impression on debut in 1992 against Fitzroy at just 17 years of age.
Voss quickly made a name for himself as a skillful and fearless leader - traits that would remain key features of his game throughout his stellar 15-year playing career.
He won his first Club Best & Fairest in 1995 and then won again the following year when he also shared the Brownlow Medal with Essendon's James Hird.
Voss was appointed the inaugural Co-Captain of the newly merged Brisbane Lions in 1997 together with Alastair Lynch and went on to Captain the Club for a decade, making a name for himself as one of the competition's most inspirational skippers in the process.
He famously led the Club to an historic three-peat of premierships from 2001-2003 and continually added to his trophy cabinet with three additional Club Champion awards, multiple AFL All-Australian selections (twice named as Captain) and countless media accolades.
After playing 289 games and booting 245 goals in 15 years at the highest level, Voss retired as a player at the end of 2006.
He famously returned to the Club at the end of 2008 as Senior Coach following the retirement of Leigh Matthews and helped lead the Club to its first AFL Finals appearance in five years during his first season at the helm.
Voss has since coached his beloved Lions in 56 matches which currently ranks him as the 15th longest serving coach in Club history (Fitzroy and Bears included).
MICHAEL VOSS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Queensland/Allies State of Origin Representative 1992, 1993, 1996
Club Champion 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003
Lions Most Professional Player 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006
Brownlow Medal 1996
AFL All-Australian 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
Lions Captain 1997 - 2006
Lions Premiership Player 2001 - 2003
Lions Life Member 2001
AFLPA Best Captain 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
AFLPA Most Courageous Player 2001
AFMA Player of the Year 2001, 2003
AFL All-Australian Captain 2002, 2003
AFLPA MVP 2002, 2003
Queensland Team of the Century Captain 2003
Lions Team of the Decade Captain 2006
Australian International Rules Representative 2006
AFL Life Member 2006
Queensland Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend 2008
Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee 2011
AFL HALL OF FAME LEGENDS (CLUB REPRESENTATIVES)
Haydn Bunton (Inducted as Legend in 1996)
Kevin Murray (Inducted in 1996. Elevated to Legend in 2010)
Leigh Matthews (Inducted as Legend in 1996)
Norm Smith (Inducted 1996. Elevated to Legend 2007)
AFL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES (CLUB REPRESENTATIVES)
Vic Belcher (Inducted 1996)
Albert Collier (Inducted 1996)
Doug Hawkins (Inducted 2004)
Jack Moriarty (Inducted 2004)
John Murphy (Inducted 2006)
Benie Quinlan (Inducted 1996)
John Rantall (Inducted 1996)
Paul Roos (Inducted 2005)
Allan 'The Baron' Ruthven (Inducted 1998)
Wilfred 'Chicken' Smallhorn (Inducted 2006)
Len Thompson (Inducted 1998)
Michael Voss (Inducted 2011)
Robert Walls (Inducted 2006)
Garry Wilson (Inducted 1999)
Jack Worrall (Inducted 1996)
