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Umpire’s ice-cold response to Richmond star’s outburst after free kick

Richmond star Nick Vlaustin wasn’t happy on Thursday night, but he was emphatically put in his place thanks to an ice-cold repsonse.

Nick Vlastuin and Simon Meredith.
Nick Vlastuin and Simon Meredith.

Simon Meredith one, Nick Vlastuin nil.

That was the feeling among the AFL community after the umpire and Richmond star’s interesting exchange during the opening quarter of Friday night’s Tigers-Swans clash at the MCG.

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Vlastuin took an intercept mark deep inside the Tigers’ defensive 50 before slowly stepping off his mark.

The unaware Tigers defender was then tackled by Swans star Tom Papley, who was awarded a free kick by umpire Meredith for holding the ball.

“This moment of madness cost him and a great tackle by Tom Papley,” Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones said at quarter-time.

Meredith’s microphone then picked up part of his exchange with a frustrated Vlastuin.

“That is embarrassing,” Vlastuin said.

Meredith calmly replied: “Nah not for me … Stand there, thanks.”

Meredith, who’s officiated in seven AFL Grand Finals, is one of the most experienced umpires on the list year.

Vlastuin’s lack of awareness and Papley’s tackle, according to triple Coleman Medallist Jason Dunstall, personified the difference in intensity between the Swans and Tigers in the first term, with Sydney holding a 15-point lead at the first change.

“Better pressure from Sydney, a lack of communication from the Tigers because they had numbers around the ball. He (Vlastuin) just wondered off the mark, no one spoke to him about it, there were no shepherds provided,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.

“Papley kicks the goal and the way they’ve been exiting their defensive 50 has been a big issue.”

Originally published as Umpire’s ice-cold response to Richmond star’s outburst after free kick

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/umpires-icecold-response-to-richmond-stars-outburst-after-free-kick/news-story/27afadeb638e42602028a37993a1dede