Dustin Martin in ump bump drama
Another Brownlow Medal contender could find himself out of the running for the coveted award after Richmond superstar Dustin Martin appeared to make intentional contact with an umpire during the Tigers’ gritty 18-point win over Geelong at the MCG on yesterday.
Moments after giving away a free kick to Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield late in the third quarter for pushing him in the back, Martin was seen trying to explain to umpire Jacob Mollison that he placed his forearm, rather than his hands, in Dangerfield’s back.
As this exclusive shot from Age photographer Wayne Ludbey shows, however, Martin seemed to place his forearm against Mollison while attempt to demonstrate his action.
Gold Coast co-captain Steven May avoided a suspension for a similar action in round eight but Geelong forward Tom Hawkins and Carlton midfielder Ed Curnow both received one-game bans last month for making intentional contact with an umpire.
Brownlow medallist Martin was handed a $1000 fine for making careless contact with umpire Curtis Deboy in Richmond’s round 6 win over Collingwood.
Martin is the second favourite for the Brownlow Medal, but with Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe already ineligible to win it after striking in round 11 and Bulldogs ball magnet Jack Macrae now expected to miss at least three weeks due to a hamstring injury, the path to the Brownlow could open up even more for Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell who is the outright favourite.
Richmond have the bye next week and Martin is expected to travel to New Zealand to visit his father, Shane. Martin isn’t the only Richmond superstar who has come under scrutiny in recent times, with defender Alex Rance making headlines for being fined for staging against Essendon and looking to exaggerate contact in a contest against Port Adelaide.
But coach Damien Hardwick directed some choice words to reporters post-game, saying that he was getting tired of the ‘‘farcical’’ commentary surrounding his four-time All-Australian champion.
‘‘That staging rule is not for the over-exaggeration of free kicks. The rule itself would say it is, but to me if I push someone and he falls over – that’s staging,’’ Hardwick said.
‘‘I would over-exaggerate for a free kick, absolutely. And every player within the AFL system has done the same.
‘‘Unfortunately they seem to pick on my bloke. That’s what we do (with) champions. Buddy Franklin over-exaggerates a free kick, all of a sudden the media are all over him. Just let the guys play, pull your heads in a bit I reckon.’’
The Tigers posted their 16th win in a row at the MCG yesterday, taking them to within one of Melbourne’s all-time record of 17 at the ground.
Richmond have returned to the top of the ladder but Hardwick was most pleased with the manner in which they beat a fellow top-four side. ‘‘It was an arm wrestle all day, conditions made it tough ... for our guys to respond when Geelong were coming in that third quarter and to gain ascendancy was really important,’’ he said.
‘‘I thought Trent (Cotchin’s) last quarter was pretty special, I thought he led from the front, managed to will us over the line which was impressive.’’