Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

The Pat Voss taunting incident has become the main talking point out of Fremantle Dockers’ win over Melbourne Demons, with coach Justin Longmuir backing the young forward after his on-field exchange with Harrison Petty during Saturday night’s AFL game at Optus Stadium. Voss was fined $1000 after rubbing Petty’s hair and making a crying gesture, and the fallout now stretches beyond one moment in the match because the AFL has moved quickly to tighten its stance on taunting. The issue matters for Fremantle because it came after a strong team win and has now raised fresh questions about player conduct and where the line sits in the AFL.

Longmuir made it clear that Voss had owned the mistake soon after the match, saying the Fremantle Dockers forward had spoken with teammates, leaders and Petty himself. That response mattered inside the club, especially with Voss still early in his AFL career and trying to balance physical intensity with control. For more AFL reaction pieces in the same lane, see Essendon Coach Brad Scott Criticised After Bombers’ 10-Goal Loss to Port Adelaide.

Longmuir backs Voss after apology

Longmuir said Voss had acted quickly after the game and understood the moment had gone too far. Fremantle’s coach also made the point that the player was more frustrated by the way the incident took attention away from the result than by the fine itself. That is often the first thing coaches want corrected, not just the act, but the way it shifts the focus off the team.

“He’s had conversations with teammates and some of the leaders and reached out to Harrison, who accepted his apology,” he told 7NEWS.

“I’ve spoken to Patty multiple times. He got on the front foot Sunday morning and gave me a call. He was really remorseful about his actions”

“He didn’t like the fact that it took away from the team’s win. I’m fully supportive of Patty. He got it wrong on the weekend, in his own words, and we understand that he’ll learn from that and won’t cross the line anymore.”

There was a clear effort from Fremantle to settle the matter quickly and keep it from dragging deeper into the week. From a football view, Longmuir’s comments also showed he does not want to strip Voss of the aggression that helps him compete. That balance can be hard for young key forwards, especially those who play with emotion and enjoy the physical side of the contest.

AFL response puts taunting under closer watch

The AFL’s response has turned this from a club issue into a wider talking point, with the league moving to make hair rubbing on an opponent a free kick for high contact. That quick move showed the incident had cut through, particularly because the images were replayed heavily after the siren exchange with Petty. Official AFL coverage of the game and the incident has kept the focus firmly on the confrontation and its aftermath.

Greater Western Sydney Giants captain Toby Greene saw it differently and questioned whether Voss needed to apologise at all. His view added another layer to the debate, one that often appears when the league tries to police actions that sit in the space between gamesmanship and misconduct.

“I thought he was a bit stiff the way he was treated, I think I heard he had to apologise to his Freo teammates, I dunno if I agree with that,” he said on AFL360.

“He plays the game on the line the fans are up about when he plays, it’s not something I feel like I’d shy away from in the game, but I’m probably not the best person to ask.”

Fremantle also managing Hayden Young setback

Longmuir also used the update to put a rough return window on Hayden Young after the midfielder’s latest hamstring setback. The coach said Fremantle expected Young to miss another two to three weeks, with hope that the shorter end of that estimate would prove right. It gives the Dockers a clearer picture heading into the next stretch of the AFL season, even if the club would rather have him back sooner.

“Youngy’s progressing really well, we’ve got 2-3 weeks for a timeline, so hopefully it’s the two.”

The broader week for Fremantle is now split between a strong win, an avoidable flashpoint involving Pat Voss and the wait on Hayden Young’s recovery. Longmuir’s stance was firm but measured, backing his player while making it plain the line had been crossed. Readers wanting official club and league updates can also follow the AFL’s official Fremantle Dockers page, which is carrying match coverage and team news tied to this story.