Voss’ petty act: Blues star fully supportive of AFL’s taunting crackdown

Carlton defender Jacob Weitering is all for AFL's crackdown on taunting.

It comes after a fine was issued to Fremantle forward Patrick Voss for his taunting of Melbourne’s Harrison Petty on Saturday.

The exuberant Docker was seen rubbing the head of Petty while also making a ‘cry-baby’ gesture as his side beat the Demons at Optus Stadium in Round 2.

AFL footy boss Greg Swann told Gerard Whateley on Fox Footy on Monday night that any future head touching or hair ruffling will be deemed head-high contact and paid a free kick.

Blues vice-captain Weitering was the subject of a similar incident in Opening Round against the Sydney Swans when Chad Warner gave him a head rub.

And he’s happy to see it stamped out, firmly believing the playing fraternity will abide.

“Absolutely. The act of ruffling the head, I’ve never been a (fan),” he said on SEN’s Whateley when asked if he was supportive of the AFL's stance.

“I know it's easy for me to say now because I was caught up in it a few weeks ago, but I've never been a massive fan of the look of it.

“There's always going to be chat, I think that's just a part of the game. Call it taunting, if you like.

“But the ruffling of the head, I just think it's unnecessary, both ways.

“And for the most part, it's usually forwards on defenders after kicking a goal having not actually touched it.

“Hopefully it stamps it out pretty quick, and I think players will abide by that pretty quickly.”

Whateley asked: “The banter, or whatever, that is one thing, but the idea of humiliating an opponent - the game doesn't need that, does it?

Weitering responded: “No, absolutely not.

“As I said, never really been a fan of it. I think other codes, other sports, throughout the world have also looked into the taunting rule with fines and whatnot.

“I think for all the commentary that's happened this week, I think, very simply, just paying that head-high free kick is probably the perfect way to go about it, full stop.”

It’s been a few weeks since the Blues opened their 2026 campaign against the Swans in Sydney.

It was a much-hyped affair given the presence of two-time Carlton Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow in red and white.

Weitering and Curnow were drafted together in 2015, spending 10 years together in navy blue, and the former admits it was a strange occurrence having to play against his good mate.

“Different, very different,” Weitering said of the SCG showdown in which Curnow kicked three goals.

“I don't know if the camera caught it or not, but he looked at me just before the siren, and I just gave him a shake of the head.

“We weren't going to shake hands until after, and we went into battle.

“Obviously, I had the privilege of playing with him for such a long time. He's a great player and a great person, and was a great teammate for a long time.

“So, I'm looking forward to the battles. Hopefully, we get him at the ‘G next time and I'll have maybe 80,000 or 90,000 supporting me in behind.

“He kicked a few more than I would've liked, but that's just the reality of it. Enemies for a few hours (in the field), and we'll be friends off it for sure.”

Weitering and Curnow are not scheduled to lock horns again in 2026 unless the two sides meet in a final.

Following a lengthy break after their pressure-relieving four-point win over Richmond in Round 1, the Blues are back in action against the Demons at the MCG this Sunday.