Dockers back 'fiery' Voss after AFL taunting sanction

Fremantle gun Shai Bolton has backed teammate Patrick Voss to continue his confrontational approach in the fallout from his taunting of Melbourne's Harrison Petty.

Voss was fined for rubbing Petty's hair condescendingly and making a 'cry baby' gesture towards the Demons defender at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

He was charged under the catch-all "other misconduct" provision and fined $1500, which was reduced to $1000 with an early guilty plea.

Voss has since come under fire for his behaviour with St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt saying the Dockers forward "embarrassed himself" with the "fake tough-guy stuff" and should have been handed a harsher penalty.

Voss spoke to select teammates and officials on Monday, when he apologised for his actions that reflected poorly on his team.

Known for being vocal around his teammates, Voss was reportedly much quieter on the track at Tuesday's training session.

"He's still pretty vocal. He was just locked in and trying to get through training," Bolton told reporters afterwards.

"Obviously there's stuff going around about him, but I think he's pretty remorse about it.

"We like him playing how he is and we know he can get a bit fiery, but at the end of the day it's just a game of football."

Melbourne captain Max Gawn jumped to Petty's defence during the incident, which occurred after the quarter-time siren on Saturday night.

Gawn said Voss had crossed a line.

"The crowd is incredibly loud, so I didn't hear anything that Voss said, I just saw what he was doing to his head which I didn't like," Gawn told Triple M Melbourne on Tuesday.

"I'm surprised there was a fine … I didn't know that was a thing.

"I personally don't do it (mock or taunt), but I don't mind it when my teammates do some sort of it, but not to that extent.

"The rubbing of the head is a look that I don't like AFL-wide."

Petty has been a target of similar gestures or sledges in recent years.

In 2022, he was brought to tears when Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko sledged him about an ill family member. Zorko later apologised.

In 2024, Lions defender Noah Answerth directed a 'cry baby' taunt towards Petty.