Crows teammates Billy Frampton and Kyle Hartigan trade punches at training in the build up to Showdown 48
Crows duo Billy Frampton and Kyle Hartigan have played down their training fight, Rory Sloane “loved parts of it”, while Power captain Tom Jonas has defended it. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
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Billy Frampton and Kyle Hartigan have played down their training fight, saying they “got a bit carried away” but have since laughed about it and moved on.
Key forward Frampton and fullback Hartigan came to blows during a match simulation inside 50 at West Lakes on Saturday, before teammates had to separate them.
Frampton retaliated after Hartigan held him, “gave him a little one in the guts and it just picked up from there”.
“It turns into a bit of a blur when that stuff happens, but it was 10-15 seconds maybe and the boys broke it up,” the former Port Adelaide player told the Crows’ website on Tuesday.
“Nicksy called us up in front of the group after and we had a bit of a laugh about it, explained what happened and shook hands about it.”
Hartigan said incidents like that were not completely out of the blue.
“It is what it is when that stuff happens and it’s been happening for years,” Hartigan told the website.
“We came together for a couple of blows but shook hands after the game.”
Adelaide captain Rory Sloane said the incident definitely “escalated” but he did not need to speak to the duo because they quickly reconciled.
The first-year skipper said stoushes happened at trainings because they were competitive and “guys get heated”.
Neither player was hurt in the scuffle or punished by the club.
“I loved parts of it,” Sloane said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“The fact those boys made up straight after, that’s what you want.
“Guys checked in on both of them to make sure they were both OK.
“What happens on the footy field normally stays on there and as long as when we come inside the four walls and it’s fine, it’s game on.”
Sloane could not quantify how many times a fight like that had happened in his 12 seasons at the club but “in my first couple of years, you certainly find out where you are in the pecking order”.
“You’re against grown men – I came in against guys like Rob Shirley, Goody (Simon Goodwin) and Nathan Bock, all big boys and it (fights) certainly happens,” he said.
“I can remember a few during my time that were quite funny.”
Power captain Tom Jonas was not surprised at the incident, particularly because former teammate Frampton “had a little bit of niggle in him”, and Sloane said the club loved that about the Crows’ off-season recruit.
“That’s the way we want him to play – with an aggressive mindset,” he said.
Crow Brodie Smith told The Lowdown Podcast Frampton was making an early impression at West Lakes.
“I didn’t have much to do with him at all beforehand but I had him in my group of eight (at training) last week and I’m really enjoying big Bill, he brings plenty of banter and is a really good fella,” Smith said.
“He’s very competitive too – him and Kyle Hartigan had a bit of a tussle on the weekend, so it’s good to see.
“I think he’s pretty clear being from across the road what the rivalry is, and a few of the boys do get stuck into him that he likes to hang out with his Port Adelaide mates and a few times we’ve walked into cafes and he’s sitting with the Port boys so we’re still trying to get that out of him.
“But he had a bit of a taste with the trial game in the pre-season so I’m sure he’s pretty clear what his role will be if he’s playing Saturday.”
Jonas was not surprised the incident boiled over.
“We’ve had our own scuffles from time to time, probably nothing that’s escalated to that level, but the boys get under each other’s skin and it’s just what we do,” Jonas said.
“I think a few of the boys have been asking him what happened but besides that I think it’s all in good fun.”
Power teammate Tom Rockliff said any friendly handshakes with Frampton would have to wait until after the game.
Originally published as Crows teammates Billy Frampton and Kyle Hartigan trade punches at training in the build up to Showdown 48