Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has defined why tall defender Ben Miller was subbed off within the closing quarter of the Tigers’ essential draw with Fremantle.
Key factors:
- Tigers defender Ben Miller was medically subbed out late within the draw with Fremantle
- Studies differed on why Miller was taken out of the sport, with Damien Hardwick saying it was a calf harm
- A participant can solely be subbed out if he’s deemed medically unfit to take part in any match for a minimum of the subsequent 12 days
With Richmond up by a objective after 16 minutes of play within the closing quarter, Miller got here to the bench and was medically-subbed out of the sport for the smaller, faster Maurice Rioli.
A minute later, Fremantle tied the scores up on the again of a Bailey Banfield objective, resulting in the primary draw of the 2022 AFL season.
The substitution raised eyebrows, with Miller not showing to endure any seen harm.
The medical substitute rule was introduced in forward of the 2021 season, with medical doctors supposed to find out the “participant will probably be medically unfit to take part in any match for a minimum of the subsequent 12 days”.
“I believe he had a calf, and was cramping considerably in the direction of the top, however I believe he tightened up in his calf as nicely so he could be OK,” Hardwick stated.
Tigers teammate Nathan Broad stated he believed Miller had been struggling full physique cramps, fairly than tightness within the calf.
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“Benny Miller had the complete physique cramps. He simply couldn’t transfer,” he stated.
“He couldn’t transfer. He genuinely couldn’t transfer. His entire physique had shut down.”
In the meantime, former Tigers spearhead Matthew Richardson stated on the Channel 7 broadcast that Miller had been receiving work on his groin throughout the match, whereas Fox Footy journalist Jon Ralph reported that the Tigers had advised him the defender had been subbed out as a consequence of a groin harm.
Richmond medical doctors will now have to supply the AFL with a medical certificates at this time as proof that Miller sustained an harm.
If a membership is discovered to be breaking the medical substitute rule, it may be sanctioned “for conduct unbecoming, or prejudicial to the pursuits or fame of the AFL, or to convey the sport of soccer into disrepute”.
Hardwick backs the Tigers to bounce again in run to finals
Hardwick maintains the Tigers’ finest is sweet sufficient regardless of a 3rd irritating end in as many weeks.
The draw adopted an after-the-siren defeat to Gold Coast and dropping to backside of the desk North Melbourne throughout a frantic end final week.
Towards the Kangaroos, it was Jake Aarts enjoying on when he was simply 30m out from objective, this time younger ahead Noah Cumberland wheeled onto his left foot simply because the siren sounded.
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Earlier, Noah Balta had an opportunity to place the Tigers forward with a set shot from 40m, however was known as to play on after taking too lengthy to begin is run up. The ensuing kick was smothered.
It was one other blow to the Tigers’ top-eight hopes, and so they might drop to as little as tenth by the top of the spherical ought to the Bulldogs beat the Demons and the Saints beat the Eagles.
“(Cumberland’s) disillusioned, and the child can be, however the reality of the matter is it is part of the entire equation,” Hardwick stated.
“There’s quite a lot of issues we did not try this nicely and quite a lot of issues we did.
“We made some errors defensively and offensively that price us objectives the opposite approach.
“It is a mountain, there is a summit on the market and we do not know which approach it would take us.
“What we do know is that our greatest footy will problem sides and if we simply get it proper on the proper time.”
Fyfe harm a “road-bump” for hurting Dockers
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir believes Nat Fyfe’s newest harm is merely a “road-bump” for the twin Brownlow medallist.
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The draw might imply Fremantle drop out of the highest 4 by the top of the weekend ought to the Lions beat the Suns and the Magpies beat the Bombers.
However the Dockers are dealing with one other stretch with out their captain after Fyfe was subbed out within the third quarter with a hamstring harm.
“(Fyfe’s) a professional, he had a smile on his face and acquired round his teammates so we’ll get it scanned,” Longmuir stated.
“It is a road-bump, the way in which I see this, as a result of he is acquired over his huge accidents and typically whenever you’re making an attempt to return again and making an attempt to be dedicated, you may have little setbacks.
“Hopefully that is all that is, a little bit setback.”
It has been a irritating 12 months for Fyfe, who solely made his first look of the season in spherical 13 after a number of shoulder surgical procedures, a knee harm and a again operation because the finish of the 2021 marketing campaign.
The 30-year-old was simply six video games again and now will probably be racing the clock to be a part of the Dockers’ first finals marketing campaign since 2015.
Longmuir stated Fremantle has loads of work to do within the final 4 video games of the home-and-away season, beginning with reigning premiers Melbourne subsequent Friday night time.
“Typically in opposition to the groups that convey good strain, you simply have to be elite along with your expertise,” he stated.
“I felt like we weren’t clear, missed some handballs that had been vital.”
Versatile tall Rory Lobb was an important out in opposition to the Tigers with a shoulder harm and isn’t any certainty to face the Demons at Perth Stadium.
Lobb was one among Fremantle’s finest within the Dockers’ gorgeous 38-point upset of Melbourne on the MCG in spherical 11.
AAP/ABC
