'Cry-baby': Freo forward under microscope after distasteful taunt

Fremantle’s Patrick Voss engaged in a taunting spree with Melbourne defender Harrison Petty, raising questions of the game’s laws surrounding patronisation.

During the Dockers’ 48-point win over the Demons, Voss and Petty went back and forth in a verbal altercation, with Voss patting Petty’s head before making a ‘cry-baby’ gesture towards the Demon as the pair separated.

While Voss’ intentions have not been confirmed, the gesture has since been linked back to an incident involving Petty in 2022, in which a sledge regarding his mother made by Brisbane defender Dayne Zorko left Petty in tears.

The same gesture was made towards Petty by Lion Noah Answerth in 2024, with Voss once again mirroring the remark.

Voss spoke with Fox Footy post-game, stating that while he has overstepped the line on occasions, he finds that fiery interactions help to get the forward going.

“I’m definitely a competitor, and once I step over the white line, that’s the way that I can get myself into the game,” he said.

“There were a few words being said, but… shake hands at the end of the day.

“Probably early in my career I stepped over the line a few times, and as I’ve matured, I’ve found the line fairly well.

“I think I’m in a pretty good space at the moment.”

When questioned on the specific incident, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir stated that he will follow up with Voss, who “treads a fine line”.

“I don’t know what context it was in; I don’t know the incident,” Longmuir said.

“He treads a fine line, but I think he gets most of it right. (I’ll) follow up with him, have a chat and see what that is.

“He tries to help his teammates out who are getting tagged. He goes after target players for us or players we want to try and negate from the opposition.

“He does a lot right in that sense. We understand he treads a fine line at times, and he's got to manage that.”