He’s the “instigator” and the “antagonist” who sparks the Dockers – but is Patrick Voss becoming Fremantle’s most important?
AFL great Jason Dunstall believes he could be.
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In Friday night’s 30-point win over St Kilda, Voss shut down Saints defender Callum Wilkie and restricted him to just three marks.
But it was his off-the-ball work on Wilkie that drew the most attention as the duo repeatedly went at it behind play.
“Patrick Voss, this is what he does,” premiership Eagle Will Schofield said.
“He’s an antagonist, he’s an instigator when he’s at his best.
“I think Pat Voss is one of the most important players for Freo.”
And Dunstall agreed, while teammate Luke Ryan was full of praise for the “selfless role” the big forward played.
“If he continues to do this job – he’s incredibly valuable for the Dockers,” Dunstall said.
“Yes, he’s annoying. He doesn’t mind being annoying.”
Ryan said Voss thrived when given a physical challenge – and he took it right up to Wilkie from the opening bounce.
But not only that, the big forward nailed three goals and had six score involvements in Fremantle’s 10th straight victory.
“Vossy loves doing those roles,” Ryan told foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s done it on Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews, and Cal Wilkie is probably the best defender in the comp!
“He leads all the intercepts so it’s great respect to him.
“Great from Vossy to play a selfless game, but also get a lick of the ice cream and bring other teammates into it.”
But Saints coach Ross Lyon described the Voss tactics as “a bit of a floor show”.
Pat Voss and Cal Wilkie tussled off the ball from the opening bounce.Source: FOX SPORTS
“I just thought to be honest the first 30 seconds was bizarre! But I’ll leave that when there was an umpire right there,” he said.
“We’re all big boys. We love the competitive spirit – I don’t know, I’m not the umpire.
“It was interesting some of it early.
“The umpire was right there so if they don’t pay it, it must be within the laws and the spirit of the game. That’s OK.
“I thought Wilkie got to work.
“In the end I think it became a none issue. I thought it was a bit of a floor show. Each to their own.”
Coach Justin Longmuir said Voss was given a role to play by forwards coach Jaymie Graham this week, and stuck to task.
“I didn’t see it like that (Voss being an instigator),” he said.
“Cal is an unbelievable player.
Pat Voss and Cal Wilkie tussled off the ball from the opening bounce.Source: FOX SPORTS
“Jaymie Graham felt if Vossy could get in behind him and own his back, that was the way to play him.
“I would imagine Cal wants to play behind and then read the play from there – that’s the way I saw that tussle.
“From there, things happen I guess.
“I didn’t see any of the wrestle and that type of thing.
“That was the instruction to Vossy and he executed it really well.”