DUCKING UPROAR: NOW IT’S ONE OF CLARKO’S BOYS
SPORT AFL
ALASTAIR Clarkson says he will continue to speak out about issues such as player ducking as Paul Puopolo’s tactics took centre stage yesterday.
Clarkson said last week that players should not be rewarded for ducking and shrugging, making it clear players in his own side used that tactic.
The Hawks kicked five of the last six goals yesterday to lose by just 13 points but, as they surged, Puopolo goaled from a free kick after dropping his knees against Toby Nankervis. It was his second free kick of the day for a high tackle, with Richmond players remonstrating with him fiercely in the aftermath.
Cats coach and good mate Chris Scott took umbrage with Clarkson’s assessment of Joel Selwood’s number of concussions on Saturday. But Clarkson, the most experienced and successful coach in the game, said he wouldn’t shy away from raising issues of player safety.
“I think all coaches, we have got an obligation to the game as well as our own club. My comments were around the head-high stuff but could just as easily have been around correct disposal of the ball too,” he said.
“It brings more and more bodies in and causes more concussions and more heads clashing and split eyes.
“If the ball player in that capacity contributes to the high contact, it should be play on. It’s an evasion tactic, without a doubt. And in a lot of instances, particularly with Poppy, it’s not so much to draw the free kick, many times he’s in space doing it.
“The umpire pays the free kick but it’s more of an evasive tactic.”
Asked if he was looking forward to a phone call with Scott, he said he wasn’t fighting the Cats coach.
“I will speak to Scotty when we run into each other. It’s not directed at Geelong,” Clarkson said.
“It’s not a fight, you don’t expect everyone should agree with me. But it’s worth putting these things up for debate.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was unwilling to discuss the ducking controversy but said knee drops and shrugs made umpiring tough.
“I would rather not buy into it. We have players who do it and Clarko summed it up. It just puts the umpires in a really tough position but I am not too sure what the answer is.”
Asked if the Hawks had any injuries post-match, Clarkson replied: “Just a bruised ego.”