The AFL is being tipped to bring in a ‘no taunting’ rule after Pat Voss of Fremantle opened old wounds with his actions towards Harrison Petty of Melbourne on Saturday. Voss was captured using a ‘cry-baby’ gesture to taunt Petty during the Dockers’ 48-point win over the Demons.
After initially rubbing Petty’s head in a move that appeared to mock his bald spot, Voss then motioned that Petty was a cry-baby by rubbing his eyes and laughing. It was a similar incident to one that occurred in 2024 when Lions defender Noah Answerth directed a cry-baby taunt towards Petty.
That came after Petty was reduced to tears during a game against Brisbane in 2022 when Dayne Zorko sledged him about a sick family member. Zorko later apologised for the incident.
Pat Voss was captured using a cry-baby taunt to mock Harrison Petty. Image: Fox Footy
Speaking on Fox Footy after the game, North Melbourne great David King said Voss took things a “step too far” with the cry-baby taunt. “I think there will be a reflection there from the club and from Patrick,” King said.
“You can embarrass them in the way you play, but you can’t humiliate them face-to-face. I think you’ve got to have a status to get away with that kind of stuff, and the harsh reality is Patrick Voss doesn’t have that yet.
“You’re going at players and causing scenes. I think it’s a bad look, and I don’t think the AFL will be thrilled with this.”
Max Gawn remonstrated with Pat Voss.
(via Getty Images)
King said he believes the AFL will eventually bring in a rule against taunting, like they have in the NFL. “I think the taunting rule will come into effect,” he said.
“I’m not sure whether there’s anything in the rules right now that you could sanction the player (with), but it’s worthy of a discussion, because in the end, it’s an ugly part of our game that we don’t need,” he said. It doesn’t sell our code or do our code any favours to the greater community.”
Patrick Voss responds after Harrison Petty incident
Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt said: “I’m sure the AFL will look into that. I hate players rubbing other players on the head. It frustrates me to no end, but we’re seeing more and more of it. It’s part of the current game … there is a mental element to this game as well.
“There is a line you have to be careful you don’t cross, because clubs don’t forget, and this comes back to bite you on the butt sometimes, so you’ve got to be really careful.”
Voss was asked about his antics by the Fox Footy panel after the game. “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 yeah, 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, and I think I’m in a pretty good space at the moment.”