Ben Stratton lowered his colours when he decided to constantly pinch Orazio Fantasia, writes Chris Cavanagh

Ben Stratton lowered his colours when he decided to constantly pinch Orazio Fantasia. Not only were his actions not on, they aren’t even close to what football should be about, writes Chris Cavanagh.

Ben Stratton pinching Orazio Fantasia. Picture: AAP Images

Ben Stratton has been a much celebrated footballer for many years and is a three-time premiership hero of Hawthorn.

But the 30-year-old lowered his colours against Essendon on Friday night.

The Hawks skipper was caught on camera constantly pinching Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia 100 or more metres off the ball in an attempt to put the Bomber off his game.

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It was targeted and took place from the opening minute of the match.

By game’s end, the back of Fantasia’s left arm had some serious bruises developing.

Fantasia pointed out the treatment to umpires at quarter-time but had little else he could do except to cop it.

“He loves to pinch,” Fantasia told Channel 7 after the match.

“He has all the tricks in the book. He’s done it every time I play on him. It’s a tough one.”

Fantasia, who was returning from injury, is no doubt identified by many opposition coaching groups as Essendon’s most important player.

However, there are legal and more savoury ways to go about limiting his impact than pinching him behind play.

It was a bad look for the game and an even worse look for Stratton.

As captain of the Hawthorn Football Club, Stratton should be leading from the front, setting the example and upholding the values of the club.

This was far from his finest moment in just his 11th game in charge in his first season at the helm.

Orazio Fantasia arms after being constantly pinched. Picture: AAP Images

Coach Alastair Clarkson said he had not seen the incidents and therefore did not want to comment.

A fine surely will come from match review officer Michael Christian.

“When deciding on a misconduct charge the MRO will ask — is that something we want to see in the game?” former Match Review Panel member and St Kilda great Nathan Burke tweeted.

“When it comes to premeditated pinching the obvious answer is NO.”

Should Christian settle on a fixed financial sanction, Stratton is facing just a $1000 penalty for a first offence if he makes an early guilty plea.

That is pocket change for an average player.

However, hopefully the widespread condemnation of Stratton is more powerful in ensuring him and other players don’t attempt this in the future.

It’s not football and it’s not on.