Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick wants clarity from AFL in terms of players and umpires being protected
The Gold Coast Suns are seeking “guidance” from the AFL when it comes to the protection of players and contact with umpires.
AFL
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Suns coach Damien Hardwick was set to meet with the AFL on Wednesday about the need for umpires to protect on-ballers, in particular heavily scrutinised Gold Coast star Matt Rowell.
Midfielder Rowell has been fined three times this season for making contact with umpires and had a few close shaves in the Suns’ 41-point win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium last Saturday.
Hardwick said both Rowell and himself understood the “duty of care” players had to not “run into umpires”.
“It’s a tough job,” the Suns coach said ahead of Gold Coast’s showdown with AFL leaders Collingwood at People First Stadium on Friday night.
“It takes a special talent to bounce the ball and then not to get whacked on the way out, so we’ve got to make sure we look after them.”
However, Hardwick suggested protection was a two-way street.
“We speak to ‘Rowelly’ about what he can control, and we’ve got a meeting with them (the AFL) to talk through a couple of things, but it’s also incumbent on the umpires to protect the ball players as well.
“That’s more the line of questioning we’ll go down.
“Hopefully, we get some guidance on what they’re looking for, and more importantly what they’re looking to correct.”
Rowell is set to play a key role in the Suns’ bid to upset the Magpies in a game many have dubbed to be the biggest in Gold Coast’s history.
The seventh-placed Suns, who will host a Friday night clash for the first time, remain on track to make a maiden finals appearance.
“It’s a big game … under the Friday night lights, which is a good place to be,” said Hardwick, who experience many Friday blockbusters during his tenure as Richmond coach.
“It’s going to be a formidable challenge but one that we are looking forward to, and we’re up for the fight. We like to think we play a big-game brand of football, which is important.
“Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a lot of big games for people at the Suns. We think we’ve got a pretty special group that’s capable of some really good things.
“I think people can see the excitement of this program, of what it can potentially become.
‘That’s our job – to have the aspiration that players can play their very best footy here first and foremost, but get something this club hasn’t done, first of all finals, but secondly premierships.”
Hardwick said Suns vice-captain Sam Collins was a chance to return from a calf injury.
“We’ll get a better understanding (on Thursday). We’re still relatively confident that he’ll get up to play, but we’ve got a couple of days to play with,” he said of the 31-year-old defender.
Originally published as Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick wants clarity from AFL in terms of players and umpires being protected
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