‘Not on’: Brisbane’s Darcy Gardiner slammed for ‘gutless’ late hit against Collingwood

AFL fans have slammed Brisbane’s Darcy Gardiner for a clumsy hit on a Collingwood player that is guaranteed to see him suspended.

Darcy Gardiner smashed into Josh Daicos.

Brisbane defender Darcy Gardiner has been slammed for a late hit on Collingwood’s Josh Daicos in the AFL on Thursday night.

An improved Magpies outfit took it right up to the more fancied Lions in a high-scoring opening term at the Gabba.

But just before quarter time, Gardiner had an absolute brain fade when he clobbered into the back of Daicos well after he had taken a comfortable mark inside 50.

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Gardiner was immediately swarmed by Collingwood players standing up for their teammate, while he was put on report by the umpire straight away.

Viewers were less than impressed at the late bump and labelled it completely unnecessary.

“It’s a bad error,” AFL legend Leigh Matthews said on Channel 7.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to know you’re going to be there too late. And Darcy Gardiner was going to be there too late and he just kept going.

Darcy Gardiner was reported for this incident late in the first quarter.#AFLLionsPiespic.twitter.com/T9IrjaO1E6

— AFL (@AFL) April 14, 2022

Luke Hodge said: “You could tell as soon as he did it, they’ve come in to push and shove and he just stood there, he didn’t argue.

“He knew he did the wrong thing there. It’s fair to say he’s going to have a week or two rest.”

Darcy Gardiner smashed into Josh Daicos.

He realised straight away he’d stuffed up big time.

Commentator Hamish McLachlan added: “He’s sort of treated him like a pinata and he wasn’t expecting it at all.”

AFL fans ripped into Gardiner for the hit on Daicos and said he can expected to be suspended for a couple of weeks.

As weak as it gets. Gutless. #AFLLionsPieshttps://t.co/F1mDHoPWNI

— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) April 14, 2022

Sports editor Alex Fair tweeted: “Time for a holiday Gardiner. That’s not on.

Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb said: “Not like Gardiner at all. Just a total brain fade. Not a great look this one.

AAP’s Ed Jackson: “That’s not smart by Gardiner at all. Just so unnecessary.”

Silly Darcy #afllionspies

— Adam Cooney (@Adamcooney17) April 14, 2022

The Lions scored six goals in the second quarter to hit the lead and they were never headed from there.

Collingwood fought back with an excellent final term but it was too little too late as Brisbane secured a 98 (15.8) to 91 (14.7) victory.