The Lions travelled to Melbourne looking to record their best-ever start to an AFL season, having equalled the 4-0 record the club achieved in 2002, but left looking for answers.
Voss's team was no match for the Demons, who led from start to finish before running out easy winners 15.13 (103) to 7.11 (53).
The Lions have endured some physical hit-outs in their opening month to the season, but Voss dismissed those games - which included coming back from a five-goal deficit last week - as a reason for their apparent flatness against Melbourne.
"That would be an excuse," Voss said after the loss.
"It was a largely inept performance, really, when you look at it.
"It was embarrassing … it was the way we played that was the embarrassing part.
"I thought they (Melbourne) put their head over the footy more, they wanted the footy more, they ran harder, they had the courage to run [and] they spread quicker.
"We weren't willing to be able to do those sort of yards and they're up and going and running hard and left us in our wake.
"Things we've been able to do against opposition they clearly did to us, so they were very impressive in the way they went about it."
After four straight wins to start the season, Voss said he hadn't seen any signs his team was on the verge of dropping its standards but the loss might do some good.
"I certainly didn't see that performance coming, that's for sure," he said.
"We've got to make sure we prepare exceptionally well, like every other side in the competition does.
"It's a very grinding season, and if you're five per cent off you're going to get a bit of a touch up.
"So this is a really good reality check for us to be able to ensure that we can come into every game thinking about the same things we want to put in place at the start of the game and not start ahead of ourselves."
There had been much focus on the fitness of captain Jonathan Brown leading into the game and while the spearhead appeared to labour at times, the coach defended his inclusion.
Brown finished with just eight disposals and one goal and while Melbourne defender James Frawley wore the champ like a glove, the Lion seemed to lack a yard of pace.
"He's fit enough; he's right to go," Voss said.
"It (the reason for the loss) wasn't Jonathan Brown's fitness, it was certainly the way we moved the ball."
The Lions also paid a price with defender Daniel Merrett suffering a hamstring injury.
However Voss said Luke Power - who missed the Demons clash with the same complaint - and late withdrawal Justin Sherman (corked thigh) should return to face the Sydney Swans next week.
"Other than something going really amiss, we'll get them both back [next week]," Voss said.
"We missed their run and their dash (tonight). They play pretty critical roles, both those guys for us, and it was pretty evident today."
