AFL Draft: Brisbane great and Carlton coach Michael Voss’ son Casey Voss looms as mature-age prospect

The son of Brisbane champion and new Carlton coach Michael Voss has been labelled one of the smartest footballers in the country as he continues his push to be drafted next month. Casey Voss enhanced his credentials on Thursday night winning Sturt’s best and fairest after an excellent season averaging 23 possessions at 83 per cent efficiency across half back. Voss, 21, was overlooked as a father-son prospect by Brisbane in 2018 after training with the club for one month but is back on recruiters’ radars as a mature-age prospect. MORE AFL: Sturt coach Marty Mattner, who played 222 games for Adelaide and Sydney Swans between 2002-2013, said the 182cm Voss had extremely high football IQ and was ready for his chance at AFL level. “He is one of the smartest players I have ever seen play the game of footy. That is AFL, SANFL, everything,” Mattner said. “His vision with the ball in hand and his is ability to read the play, intercept mark and rebound out of defence or go inside 50m are fantastic. “He just knows how to find the footy, he defends really well and he is a ripping kid.” With reduced list sizes and tight salary caps, the squeeze is on across the competition to offer state league stars such as Voss an opportunity on AFL lists. But recruiters are adamant more rough diamonds exist. Geelong is one club which has hit the jackpot in recent years unearthing best and fairest winner and All-Australian Tom Stewart out of South Barwon in the Geelong Football League. Voss said he had worked hard to improve his fitness this year and, like his dad who will reignite his senior coaching career at the Blues, was eager for a chance to prove himself at the top level. “For me it was about work rate and just playing some more consistent footy,” Voss said. “In previous years I had patches where I was able to play well, but this year I was able to put that together more consistently. “The dream is to play at the highest level I can and if that does happen for me, then it would be great reward for the effort I’ve put in. “I would love to get there.”