Brisbane coach Michael Voss says the Lions shouldn’t be damned for greeting St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt with a physical presence in his AFL comeback game.
The Saints have been critical of the Lions’ tactics in making Riewoldt their focus on Saturday night at the Gabba, where the star forward played his first game since overcoming a hamstring tendon injury he suffered in round three.
Riewoldt became the focal point of a melee at three-quarter time for dragging Amon Buchanan to the ground after the Lion bumped into the Saint’s back after he missed a shot at goal.
Seven St Kilda players and seven Lions were on Monday charged with engaging in a melee.
All 14 players were hit with $1600 fines by the match review panel, but can reduce their penalties to $1200 by pleading guilty.
If all players are found guilty, the fines will total between $16,800 and $22,400.
Voss on Monday defended his players’ actions towards Riewoldt, and said the Lions were trying to provide a physical presence “with the most sportsmanlike behaviour”.
“We’ve been (criticised) as to not being able to do those sort of things and now we’re being damned by the fact that we’ve provided a physical presence,” he said.
“So damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Voss said he had no problems with the Lions’ tactics and thought Riewoldt should be comfortable also.
“They’re a tough footy team,” he said of the Saints.
“I wouldn’t have thought Nick would have a problem with that at all.
“He understands he’s had 12 weeks out of the game and if the players have done that I’m not going to sit here and tell them not to … integrity was maintained.”
Riewoldt and teammates Adam Pattison, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Sam Fisher, Andrew McQualter and Jason Gram were all charged with engaging in a melee.
Buchanan, Brendan Fevola, Ash McGrath, Todd Banfield, Joel Patfull, Jack Redden and Pearce Hanley were the Lions charged.
Two St Kilda defenders, Sam Gilbert and Jason Blake, were reported on separate charges but can escape with reprimands by pleading guilty.
Gilbert was charged with engaging in rough conduct on Simon Black in the second quarter and Blake was reported for tripping Redden in the third quarter.
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