"Not this one," Voss said, when asked if the game could be written off as one where they simply didn't come to play.

"The first one … you always have one. You don't get two.

"That was completely unacceptable, really.

"The Kangaroos really dominated every facet from the very start of the game so that puts you under enormous pressure to try and manufacture something.

"Despite trying to achieve a couple of different things and approaching them a different way, nothing seemed to work for very long.

"It was certainly something we walk away and say, 'well, that's unacceptable' and we've got to be able to go away and make sure we've got to work harder."

Voss denied his players' lack of work rate was a physical thing, as the team that was fielded was one of their better "pure physically fit sides".

He also said the result was disappointing as it came on the back of improved form against Adelaide in round two and Gold Coast last week.

"I think the last couple of weeks we've been building our form back, so to come to the game today and not be able to have a good account of ourselves is just hugely disappointing," he said.

"In the end, we just got a lesson in work rate.

"If you can't win your individual contest when required and then be able to secure the ball going back the other way, it's a lot of hard work in defence for most of the day and the scoreboard can creep away from you and that's what we got a lesson today in – complete work rate."

Jack Redden was reported for high contact against Ben Cunnington in the third quarter while Daniel Merrett gave away six free kicks and was a picture of frustration.

"The opposition took it to us and we didn't handle that situation at all," Voss said.

While the Lions failed to match the Roos in many areas, Voss said the debuts of Marco Paparone – who came on for Ash McGrath (corked calf) at quarter time – and Sam Docherty, as well as Sam Mayes' performance in his second game, were positives.

"They've got a long journey ahead of them and that's what my job [is] to do; to make sure that no matter what path, if it's easy or hard, we bring through this blood and we've got to keep playing them and that's where our improvement has to come from," he said.

But he conceded the team was currently a far cry from being a finals contender.

"We've obviously way off that at the moment," he said.

Pearce Hanley struggled through the third quarter with a corked knee before sitting out the rest of the game.

"The way the scoreboard was looking, we sort of asked for five more minutes in the fourth quarter but [Hanley] was well and truly dusted, really," Voss said.

"We decided to not put him back on the field so the boys just had to hang on, really, and we probably hung on for a little bit and their scoreboard just kept ticking over."

Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan.