Fremantle's Pat Voss Taunts Melbourne's Harrison Petty with Crying Gesture
Fremantle antagonist Pat Voss has ignited controversy by riling up Melbourne defender Harrison Petty with a pointed sledge on the stroke of quarter-time during their clash on Saturday night. After the Dockers piled on seven goals to one in a dominant first term, Voss and Petty were seen exchanging words as players headed to their respective huddles.
Voss tapped Petty multiple times on the back of the head, perhaps highlighting the defender's bald spot, before escalating the confrontation with a questionable act. He took both hands to his eyes, pretending to wipe away tears, in a clear reference to an incident from over three years ago.
Commentary and Reaction
"Voss and Petty get into it, that's really stirring the pot as we go to the break," commentator Adam Papalia said on Fox Footy. "Going with the crying ... Patrick Voss doesn't mind getting stuck into the opposition."
Petty remained unmoved and barely reacted throughout the interaction, but Melbourne captain Max Gawn intervened, pushing Voss away to defuse the situation. The crying gesture brought back memories of the infamous 2022 incident at the Gabba, where Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko left Petty in tears during a game.
Fan Backlash and Criticism
Voss has developed into a cult hero with his energetic style of play and goal celebrations, but fans were quick to turn on the young forward following the taunt.
- One fan said: "Voss you have had three touches, instead of rubbing heads and holding players off the ball or taunting just focus on the football!!"
- Another added: "The carry on at quarter time was embarrassing."
- A third commented: "Pat Voss chirps a hell of a lot for a bloke whose achieved nothing in the game."
- Another noted: "I think I'm starting to understand why Essendon let Voss go... He's a great player, but bloke needs to control his emotions."
- One more remarked: "Patrick Voss strikes me as the sort of bloke that his teammates just tolerate."
Historical Context and Player Perspectives
This is not the first time Petty has been targeted with such a sledge. In 2024, Zorko's teammate Noah Answerth mocked Petty with a "cry baby" act during a Lions-Demons clash at the MCG. Answerth was extremely apologetic afterward, but Petty's teammate Jake Lever was highly critical.
Melbourne defender Jake Lever emphasized that such behavior should not be part of the game. "He (Petty) had a tough time up there a few years ago and as a player, you don't know what others are going through," Lever told Channel 7 at the time. "I think footy's cleaned up that sort of act."
The incident highlights ongoing debates about sportsmanship and emotional conduct in professional AFL, with Voss's actions drawing widespread scrutiny and fan disapproval.
