Fagan laughs off Daniher comeback talk; Dillon says clubs were warned about umpire contact

Loading “We wrote to the clubs at the start of the year, warning that this was on the radar. “Again we wrote to the clubs in April and reminded the clubs to remind the players that there is the potential if there are multiple infractions for the same offence, which has got a fixed financial sanction, that there is the ability to refer that to the tribunal. So we reminded the clubs and the players that that actually exists. “We had a president’s meeting in June where I raised that again. We had a lot of talk about umpires, and that was another thing that we raised there – the increased number. By that stage, the number of careless contacts had already gone above what it was last year.” Hardwick, the three-time Richmond premiership coach, was furious on Thursday, even warning the league there could be repercussions if Rowell was cited again.

“If it leads to a suspension, look out from our point of view,” Hardwick said. Loading “I know we’re the Gold Coast Suns, and don’t get me wrong, Matt Rowell is a superstar, but if this was spoken about with Nick Daicos, Collingwood would tear the place down. “Let’s sit there and understand what we’re talking about here. We can make a change about umpire adjudication, but we’ve been calling out for change to the tribunal for a period of time. Why can we, with the swipe of a pen, change one but not the other?” Dillon suggested it would have to be a major careless act for a player, already with multiple offences, to be suspended.

“I won’t go into hypotheticals, but if it was a careless contact for clipping heels, that would be a fine, but if it’s someone who’s had multiple [offences], it might be referred to the tribunal and the fine might be increased,” he replied. “I think it’s very unlikely [a suspension].” Better be careful: Kysaiah Pickett has been repeatedly fined for umpire contact. Credit: AFL Photos Regarding Hardwick’s comments, and whether there had been an over-reaction to the change, Dillon said the health and safety of umpires was just as important as it was for players. “I think if you take things to the extremes you can always do that,” he said. “We spoke with all 18 [club] CEOs, and they were really understanding. The health and safety of our players is paramount – we say that all the time.

“Absolutely, it’s the same for our umpires. Of the 60 careless contacts that there were after round 15, every single one of them was at a stoppage. Loading “So it’s nothing to do with four umpires or three umpires or two umpires. It’s the umpire backing back with their back when they’re balling it up or bouncing it in the middle.” Dillon also defended the decision to spread the bye rounds over five weeks, pointing to the needs of fans and broadcasters, but suggested it could be cut to four weeks. “We’ve done everything. In my time at the AFL we’ve had a week off, then we’ve had one game, then we had two, and now we spread it over five weeks,” he said.

“My personal opinion is either what we did this year or may be one less week. I like weekends where there are at least seven games. You can have your Thursday night, Friday night, a full slate on Saturday, and a couple of games on Sunday. “But we also have to be mindful of what we’re asking of our players and also of the football staff. Having a week off is really important for them as well.” ‘That will never happen’: Daniher comeback laughed off AAP

Texts with Joe Daniher while he holidays in Portugal and Spain have left Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan in no doubt the mercurial forward will never “play footy again”. Fagan laughed off the prospect of a comeback from the notoriously private premiership star on Friday after the 31-year-old had been linked with Sydney.

“I’m nearly 100 per cent sure, 99.99 per cent sure,” Fagan said ahead of the Lions’ Gabba clash with Port Adelaide on Saturday. Daniher was brilliant in the Lions’ run to the flag last season and then, with an eye to business interests outside of football, retired with a year still to run on his contract. “Joe is enjoying life at the moment and the other thing I’d be confident with is if he did, he would play with us,” Fagan said. “I’ve been texting him a little bit while he’s been in Portugal and Spain, enjoying life, so I don’t think he’d be in great nick right now.

“I’d be very, very surprised if Joey ever plays footy again.” A refreshed Fagan was in good nick himself after the side’s bye, the Lions (10-4-1) sitting second after a drought-breaking win in Geelong a fortnight ago. They’ve lost just two games away from the Gabba since last season’s mid-year bye – both by less than a goal – when Fagan told the team “if you’re on thin ice, you may as well dance”. That message helped propel them from 13th to the flag and the coach has gone back to the well as they plot a rare title defence. “We’ve got one, but I’m not going to tell you what it is,” he said of his latest catchphrase.

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