Patrick Voss is a 195-centimetre key forward who has become one of the AFL’s most unlikely success stories. Delisted by Essendon at the end of 2023 without playing a single senior game, Voss was thrown a lifeline by Fremantle and has since transformed into a fan favourite known as the “Prancing Pony.” In 2025, he kicked 37 goals across 20 games and signed a contract extension keeping him at the Dockers until at least 2030.
Where is Patrick Voss from?
Patrick Voss was born on 29 June 2003 and grew up in the Riverina region of New South Wales. He joined the Greater Western Sydney Giants junior academy program before moving to Melbourne, where he attended Wesley College and played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Under-18 Talent League.
He was drafted by Essendon with the ninth selection in the 2022 rookie draft. Voss spent two years on the Bombers’ list but never made his AFL debut, despite kicking 49 goals in 29 VFL games and winning Essendon’s VFL best and fairest award in 2023.
Why was Patrick Voss delisted by Essendon?
Voss was delisted at the end of the 2023 season after failing to break into Essendon’s senior forward line. At the time, the Bombers had Kyle Langford (51 goals), Jake Stringer (21), Peter Wright (19), and Sam Weideman (15) as key marking options. Coach Brad Scott simply did not see room for Voss to flourish.
Voss later admitted the delisting was the right call at the time. “I definitely wouldn’t say they got it wrong at all – I think getting delisted opened my eyes up a little bit,” he said. “The way it worked out, I loved my time at Essendon, and I’m loving my time even more here.”
How did Patrick Voss get to Fremantle?
Voss was one of four players invited to train with Fremantle ahead of the 2024 season. He impressed enough to earn a spot on the list via the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period.
He made his AFL debut in Round 7, 2024, against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, and achieved the rare feat of kicking a goal with his first kick. He played seven games in his first season, kicking 7.11, showing potential but struggling with accuracy.
Why is Patrick Voss called the “Prancing Pony”?
Voss earned the nickname “Prancing Pony” for his energetic and jubilant goal celebrations, which include puffing out his chest and strutting around the field. Fremantle forwards coach Jaymie Graham coined the term, and fans have embraced it.
His on-field persona is that of a pest and enforcer. He shoves opponents after taking marks, shushes hostile crowds, and is always in the middle of a melee. “He’s one of the blokes you want on your team,” said teammate Luke Ryan. “You don’t want to be playing against him, because he’s that firestarter.”
What changed for Patrick Voss in 2025?
Voss’s breakout came after a moment of brutal honesty with himself. Following a disappointing performance against Geelong in 2024, he realised he needed to commit fully to being a professional.
“I remember walking off after the Geelong game and got really disappointed,” Voss said. “I just thought to myself, if I’m going to have a good go at this, I’ve got to go all-in. There were probably other parts of my life where I probably let myself down a little bit.”
He stopped drinking alcohol entirely. He committed to elite recovery, nutrition, and sleep. He fixed his goalkicking technique, which had plagued him early in his career. The results were dramatic. After starting 2025 with 2.7 in his first three games, he exploded with 32.16 for the rest of the season, including a career-high 6.1 in a famous one-point win over Collingwood at the MCG.
What are Patrick Voss’s strengths?
Voss is a physical beast. He can bench-press 152.5 kilograms, second only to ruckman Liam Reidy at Fremantle and far above the average AFL player’s 110-120 kilograms. He brings relentless energy to training, meetings, and games. He is also a genuinely popular clubman, described by Fremantle’s Head of Player Personnel David Walls as “an enthusiastic, energetic bloke who’s got time for everyone.”
His fierce competitiveness extends beyond football. Teammate Luke Ryan laughed about a recent ping-pong session: “He was going to throw bats around and was pushing blokes. He’s not the best table tennis player around, but he definitely has a go.”
What has Patrick Voss achieved?
In 2025, Voss kicked 37 goals in 20 games, forming a potent three-headed forward line with Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss. The trio became the first in Fremantle’s history to each kick 40+ goals in a season. He was named in the AFLPA 22 Under 22 40-man squad. In December 2025, he signed a four-year contract extension, tying him to Fremantle until at least 2030.
He played his 50th game for Fremantle in August 2026, having booted 41 goals for the season. He has a remarkable record at the MCG, kicking 15 goals in three career games at the venue.
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