FEATHERS RUFFLED IN HAWKS GAME
TEMPERS flared as Richmond held off a late Hawthorn surge to win their pulsating AFL match by 13 points yesterday at the MCG.
The Hawks kicked six goals to three in the last quarter but the Tigers rebounded from last week’s disappointing loss to Adelaide to win 15.12 (102) to 13.11 (89). It is Hawthorn’s first loss of the season.
Two days after Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson called for a crackdown on players drawing high free kicks, it sparked a scuffle in the last quarter.
Nuggety Hawks forward Paul Puopolo appeared to drop his knees and gained a free kick for high contact.
That prompted an angry reaction from Richmond players and Puopolo’s teammate Cyril Rioli ran in to provide support as a scuffle broke out.
Puopolo kicked a goal from the free, reducing the margin to 21 points, but the Tigers steadied with Jack Riewoldt’s fourth goal.
There was another scuffle a couple of minutes from the final siren when Hawks forward Luke Breust marked in front of goal and Richmond defender Alex Rance collected his head with a late spoil.
Breust was too dazed to take the free kick, with Jaegar O’Meara kicking the last goal of the game instead.