Coach Damien Hardwick says it’s futile buying into controversial flash points in Richmond’s two-point AFL loss to Port Adelaide.
Port’s Robbie Gray threaded a match-winning set-shot with minutes remaining at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Gray’s ice-cool 45-metre shot ensured Port prevailed 11.13 (79) to 11.11 (77) to deal consecutive defeats to Hardwick’s Tigers.
Besides kicking the winning goal, Power stalwart Gray was central in two controversies.
In the second quarter, he gathered the ball when clearly out of bounds – but the boundary umpire didn’t whistle and Gray passed to teammate Orazio Fantasia, who scored a goal.
“Did that guy from the first row give it to that guy so he could kick that goal?” Hardwick said.
“It couldn’t be any further out, could it? Anyway… Look, its a hard game to adjudicate but they do a good a job as they can. Yeah, I will leave it at that.”
(Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
And after kicking the final goal, Gray was also involved in the final score of the game – a rushed behind to Richmond.
After a goal-square scramble when Tiger Jason Castagna had an air shot attempting to kick a goal, Gray slid in to collect the loose ball and hand-balled it over Richmond’s goal-line.
Tigers players appealed for a free kick – rules state a player can’t deliberately concede a behind when not under pressure from the attacking team.
Gray’s act wasn’t penalised – and Hardwick bit his tongue.
“I could delve into that – but I don’t think there’s any point,” he said.
“I think overall there is a million decisions that happen throughout the course of the game that can go one way or the other.
“That one, for me – it is what it is.”
Hardwick, who played for Port in the club’s only premiership in 2007, also exchanged words with a Power fan after leaving the coaching box but said there was no malice involved.
“That guy was giving me a tissue,” he said.
“I thought, ‘That’s a bit harsh, I have won three out of the last four flags mate, I’m not sure I need a tissue’. But anyway.
“I must admit, this (Adelaide Oval) is a great place to play footy.
“The ground is outstanding… I find myself singing the bloody INXS song when I’m walking out on the ground,” he said, referring to Port’s pre-game anthem, the INXS song ‘Never Tear Us Apart’.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Port were shot - commentators, their own coach and match reports say that. Played great last quarter by protecting corridor and slowing the game down. I say if this game was at the G Port loses. Tigers were the one that travelled and were underdogs given what Sydney did to them last week. Tigers blooded 2 youngsters. Port won corresponding game last year then lost 10 goals the next week.
GM
Guest
Tiger's Edwards should be suspended for 2 matches for his nasty tackles on Power's Butters and Duursma.
Razzar
Guest
Agree, camera angles were Not definitive. It’s just too easy to be selective when your team is struggling when you expect them to just win all the time. Being Up for so long, there’s only one direction to go.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Houli was stiffed on that for sure. And doesn't prior character count for anything?
Jeff
Guest
I'm a Tiges man and I had no issue with the Gray rushed behind not being called a free. That's the rule if you're surrounded by opposition forwards and are within 10m from goal. Calmness and smarts under pressure by a smart skilled footballer that is Robbie Gray. The Houli decision however was one of many absolute shockers in the first half against Richmond. When was the last time a player got pinged for not knowing a ball 50m away was touched? Then add Dusty being tackled without the ball yet gets pinged as well as no free when Allir landed right on Riewoldt's back while Jack was face down on the ground. Deboy is a disgrace of an umpire and always has been. Should never be allowed to umpire Richmond games. Thankfully he is so bad he never gets to umpire finals and especially GFs.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yeah, 'cause only PA fans would know. Be gracious in victory, dude. Better team won on the night, simple.
sven
Roar Rookie
still working their way into top form hopefully angela, after '18 think theyre wary of peaking too early, that said need to win enough early ones to ensure a top 4 finish come finals .... time will tell .. suspect cats & port may be treading the same path
sven
Roar Rookie
ha ha as i said, not too much ......
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Is anyone else sick of the whole “blame the umpires” thing after every game?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So you're into it ... a bit. Typical Libran, a bit each way :happy:
TomC
Roar Guru
I thought it was a great game. I didn't think the umpiring was significant. But it seems that's what some sections of the media want to focus on. I guess it gets more hits on the internet than reporting a superb footy match.
sven
Roar Rookie
not too much into that devil worshipping of yours rowdy, but suspect being a libran im generally a pacifist looking for a non confrontational outcome (not that theres anything wrong with a bit o violence when called for)
sven
Roar Rookie
agree boo pretty sure he was rushing it but u dont wanna see those called, dont how the port fan was behaving but thought hardwicks response was ok, nothing wrong with a bit of harmless interaction with supporters
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I have Mars conjunct Pluto .... everything is a fight.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
I was at the game, and I thought the umpiring was pretty consistent for both teams. Of course Gray was handballing it through the goals on purpose, but you can't possibly call that deliberate in that moment of the game. Grimes had a similar situation in the 3rd quarter. All these footy fans and Richmond fans in general complaining about the umpiring don't have much of a clue.
Angela
Roar Rookie
Yup, spot on Sven. Good luck for the Tige's next match. Have a strong feeling they will come good. Damien will cope better after a win, I'm sure.
Boo
Guest
I thought the Gray handball on first glance could have been called a free but it was borderline so glad game not won on umpires call .Hardwicks response should have been to ignore the spectator straight down to recovery with the players as next week's game chance to slip to two and three critical .
sven
Roar Rookie
the bloke was asked a question & responded with a pretty straight bat, fair dinkum u anti tiges brigade look for anything to have whine about
sven
Roar Rookie
think we are in furious agreement rowdy
Angela
Roar Rookie
“I could delve into that – but I don’t think there’s any point,” he said. No, none. Take a leaf out of Longmire’s book, show some restraint and hold your tongue. Might be boring but much more impressive.