Michael Voss helped instil the same courage and fight into his players that made him such a champion of the game.

This has been clearly evident in Lions’ never-say-die attitude in 2013 – particularly in the team’s Round 13 and 16 comebacks against Geelong and North Melbourne respectively.

Even against Richmond last Saturday afternoon, the Lions simply refused to lie down and accept defeat when the match looked gone at half time.

As was revealed during Voss’ farewell media conference on Wednesday, his team had learned to ‘run towards the roar’.

“Our theme across the year has been the analogy of ‘run towards the roar’,” Voss explained.

“It surrounds an African story about Lions hunting their prey and the herd in the middle. The old, strong Lion goes out the front, and the strong and the young go to the side.

“The old and the weak yell out the roar hoping the herd goes in the other direction where they become live kill.

“The challenge for that herd is to actually run towards the roar. That’s about overcoming fear and challenge.”

Voss said his team had embraced the analogy and had become fearless in their pursuit of success.

“When I, as their leader, turned and ran towards the roar, I felt they were behind me,” Voss said.

“They never gave up and they saw it out till the end.

“There might have been some casualties along the way. I can’t say whether I got all of them.

“What I’m really pleased with is that when I ran, they ran with me. And I’m really proud of them for that.”

Those stirring words will certainly live on in the hearts and minds of all the Lions players, who have been guided by Voss into battle over the past five seasons.

Their challenge now is to ensure that his words aren’t lost, and that they maintain that same determination for the remaining three matches of 2013 and beyond.