Brisbane coach Michael Voss has immediately gone to work in contrasting the Lions' new no-frills attitude with the hype of local rivals Gold Coast.

Starting AFL pre-season training on Monday, Voss said the battling Lions were embracing a low-key campaign following this year's meltdown and the rise of the fledgling Suns.

But he stressed Brisbane had no thoughts of wallowing in the AFL's cellar and had their sights firmly set on a return to finals action in 2011.

"If you want the excitement go down the road, if you want the hard work come here," Voss said.

"We're more than capable of finishing in finals but we know to do that though it's going to take everybody to be able to do that.

"It's not going to take individual brilliance, it's not going to take a moment, it's going to take momentum built over a long period of time and that's what this day signifies.

"This day starts that momentum wheel."

Almost everything went wrong for Voss and Brisbane in 2010 after winning their first four matches.

His punt on Brendan Fevola, one of six seasoned trades, backfired badly, while a string of injuries and below-par skills saw them finish 13th.

The post-season losses of 2010 club champion Michael Rischitelli and the mercurial Jared Brennan, who will join Gary Ablett at the Suns, as well as a staff clean-out added to perceptions the club had hit rock-bottom.

But Voss borrowed a line from his predecessor, Leigh Matthews, during their premiership era by saying this year would have no impact on 2011.

"As my old mentor said `one season never relates to another' and that's never been truer - you always start at zero, every single team, no matter what you come in like," he said.

Although restricted to rehab and bike work, a shaven-headed Fevola was on hand to watch the bulk of the Lions' young list begin their pre-season under the guidance of new fitness coach Brett Burton.

Adelaide's former `Birdman', Burton has already impressed Voss with his ideas and plans to improve the Lions' conditioning.

Grounded skipper Jonathan Brown won't return to the training paddock until just before Christmas, while vice-captains Simon Black, Luke Power and Daniel Merrett were also on leave.

But the likes of Mitch Clark and Ash McGrath did return to training early, pleasing Voss who noted an impressive attitude across his list, including a fit-looking Fevola.

"They all look like there's not too much pudding there," he said.

"They have all presented themselves in good fashion and Fev has done the same thing."

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