Hardwick heckle probe

Coach safety back in spotlight after Adelaide fan’s sledge

DAMIEN Hardwick’s verbal altercation with an Adelaide fan has again raised questions about why coaches have to walk through crowds at AFL games.

The AFL will decide next week whether to take further action against the fan, who sledged Hardwick post-match after the Tigers’ loss.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said yesterday his verbal attack was “reasonably mild”, but Hardwick was upset enough to stop and confront him then point him out to a security guard.

Witnesses told News Corp how Hardwick reacted strongly after a Crows member told the Tigers coach: “Not so funny now you are not at the MCG, hey buddy?”

The middle-aged fan, who was sitting with two friends, was then spoken to by a police officer trailing Hardwick, who took the man’s drivers licence and membership card.

Philip Weir, 57, of Happy Valley, in Adelaide’s south, was sitting in front with his family and said the exchange was “innocent football banter”.

AFL Coaches Association chief executive Mark Brayshaw yesterday said coaches deserved the right to walk through crowds without being “heckled”.

He revealed the AFLCA had worked with the AFL’s in- tegrity team last year to ensure coaches were better protected by security guards at AFL games.

“It’s a sad day when a coach can’t walk like that without being heckled. [Damien] showed restraint. The guy was foolish and out of line,” he said.

“It looked like the security guards did a bloody good job.

“Last year in conjunction with the AFL integrity team we investigated protecting coaches before, during and after every game and it looked like that’s exactly what the security guard did.

“Shame on the fella for heckling.

“I don’t know what was said but [Damien] showed restraint. I think he wanted to point the guy out, so he’s an experienced campaigner.”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has again asked why coaches have to walk through the crowd in Adelaide.