Fremantle forward Pat Voss has opened up about a debilitating bout of gastroenteritis that caused him to lose 4 kilograms and miss last month's clash against Carlton. The 22-year-old was a late withdrawal from the Anzac Day match after being struck down in the 48 hours prior.
Struggling with Symptoms
Voss revealed that he first experienced symptoms on Thursday night, spending the entire night vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea. He spent most of the following day at home, trying to recover. Despite his condition, Voss attempted to convince himself he was fit to play, even making an emergency toilet stop at a service station on the way to the game.
“I somehow convinced myself I was going to be right (for the Blues game). I was so ambitious thinking I was going to be right,” Voss said on 92.9 Triple M. “It all stopped for about eight hours, and then about six hours before the game, it kicked right off again. I was still thinking I was going to be right.”
Desperate Measures
In a desperate attempt to control his symptoms, Voss took 10 doses of Gastro-Stop, far exceeding the recommended two to three tablets. However, the medication proved ineffective. “The worst part about it was I took 10 and I still had diarrhoea throughout the whole game, so it didn’t work,” he said. “(I lost) about 4kg. That was as sick as I’ve ever been.”
Voss eventually failed a late fitness test an hour before the Saturday night match, ruling him out of the game. He noted that Fremantle fans spotted him during his emergency stop at the service station, adding to the surreal experience.
Continued Health Issues
While Voss recovered enough to return the following week against the Western Bulldogs, he was battling another illness. He revealed he was struggling with rhinovirus, the most common cause of the common cold, in the lead-up to the match. This affected his performance, as he gathered just five disposals and failed to kick a goal in the Dockers' narrow win.
Ready for Hawthorn
In good news for Fremantle, Voss is feeling “cherry ripe” ahead of Thursday night's blockbuster against Hawthorn. He has promised a big celebration should he kick an early goal, referencing his subdued celebrations in previous matches. “What I’ve been saying to people is, ‘you can’t really celebrate when you’re kicking a goal 5m out against West Coast when you’re up by 60 points’,” he said. “If I kick a big snag (on Thursday) nice and early, I will let it go.”
