For the fourth time this season the Lions were dominated and taken out of the game by the time the siren sounded to end the first quarter.
Although the 26-point deficit at the first break was less than in defeats to the Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Swans, the scale of statistical disparity at this stage was embarrassing - behind in disposals 113-59, clearances 15-6 and Inside 50s 21-6.
Voss despaired at his team’s poor effort in winning the hard ball, a trait he was known for when skippering the Lions to three consecutive flags a decade ago, the achievement of which was recognised before the game.
“It was unacceptable. At the start of games there's a responsibility to be able to win the ball,” Voss said.
“It’s basic, it’s been around a long time. It won't go away.
“You cannot compromise those at any particular time, no matter the age profile of the group, you just cant do that.”
Voss spent a long time in the dressing room after the game and admitted blasting the lack of accountability shown.
“Whenever you feel like your non-negotiables have been breached you’ve got to feel it's fair game,” Voss said.
“That’s winning the ball and sticking (to) your tackles. We weren’t doing that well from the outset.
“Collectively as a midfield we have a group there who have to be accountable for the performance and it wasn’t good enough. A lot of the players in there are senior players. They’ve got to lead the way.
“As the game wore on we got better. You’ve got to be able to do that from the start of the game.
“You can’t have the weight of possession so in favour of the opposition and expect to get any sort of flow, or system, or strategy implemented to put the opposition on the back foot.
“We were backs to the wall from the very start of the game.
“As the scoreboard ticks over it looks like your ball movement falls down because you’re trying to force the issue. It looks sloppy because you’re forcing things to happen, but it’s because you’re starting on the back foot.
“There’s an enormous responsibility when you start in the middle to win the ball and we haven’t been doing that. Something has to change.”
It is becoming increasingly likely that one change ahead of the 2014 campaign will be a new coach in charge of the Lions.
Now at 3-7 with games against Fremantle, Hawthorn and Geelong to follow after their bye, any hope the Lions had of a top-eight finish are effectively over.
