Damien Hardwick

Hardwick questions “frustrating” umpiring performance

Damien Hardwick doesn’t believe his star forward Jack Riewoldt got the rub of the green last night.

Published by
Stephen Marson

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has hit out at the umpiring during the Tigers' eight-point win over Essendon on Friday night.

The final free kick count went the way of the Bombers 27-15, and while Hardwick wasn't overly bemused by the 27, he was a bit unsure how his side only received 15 throughout the game.

"It was a frustrating night, there’s no doubt," Hardwick said during the post match press conference when being asked about the umpiring.

"Once again it's not the free kicks that we give away – the vast majority, 80 per cent, (of those) are there – but it’s the ones we don't get that probably I find a little bit frustrating.

"I look at Jack tonight and I thought, 'You know what – he doesn’t get much.' Hmm.

"And I look at the other end and think, 'Ooh, I wish he was playing (at) the other end.'

"Once again, it's a very, very hard game to adjudicate. The ball was played in our half early days.

"Jack normally perseveres with that. He doesn't blame, doesn't complain – he just gets on with it and jumps at the ball.

"It is what it is. Not much we can do about it. Hopefully we’ll get a better result next week."

Across the 2018 season, the Tigers average 17.9 frees for per game - which is 18th in the competition - while also giving away a league high 23.1 frees against per game.

It'll be the second year in a row in which the Tigers finish the home-and-away season giving away the most free kicks of any side in the competition.

Published by
Stephen Marson