Hardwick's press conference today ...
VIDEO:
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2014-07-03/hardwick-press-conference-july-3rd------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MRP's inconsistency frustrating, says HardwickNathan Schmook
afl.com.au
July 3, 2014 11:13 AMRICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has taken aim at the Match Review Panel, saying it is an inconsistent and frustrating system that is hurting the game.
The Tigers will take on the Brisbane Lions on Saturday without small defender Steven Morris, who was suspended for one match because of two high bumps in last week's clash against St Kilda.
Morris accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points for each incident, but under the Tribunal system his points were combined, resulting in 187.5 points and a one-match ban.
He would have risked a two-game ban by challenging one or both of the rough conduct charges.
Hardwick said the 25-year-old should not have been suspended for the head clashes, which resulted from late bumps on Saints Jack Steven and Sean Dempster.
"The Tribunal is there for a reason and I don't think that's one of them," he said on Thursday.
"Steve is a hard player, he's a tough player, but I don't think we like to see a player suspended for those incidents.
"I could point out five or six of those every week, but for some unknown reason Steve gets done for two.
"It's a head-on-head clash. Accidents happen in footy, it's a combative sport. We pick that one, we choose that one, but not all of them, it's really inconsistent."
Hardwick said inconsistency in the MRP system was "really hurting us at the moment" and precedents were yet to emerge with penalties.
"A bit of a lottery? At the moment the inconsistency is really frustrating me to be perfectly honest," he said.
"Overall the points system has got merit, I just think we've got to refine it in certain areas.
"We'll probably address it at the end of the year."
Morris would have been earmarked to line up on one of the Lions small forwards this week, with Hardwick highlighting the threat posed by the 'mosquito fleet' of Dayne Zorko, Josh Green and Lewis Taylor.
"They've been in outstanding form ... I think between them they've kicked 16 (15) goals over the last four games," he said.
"So we've got to make sure we're on our toes and deny them the scoring opportunities they had last week.
"It'd obviously be a bit better if Steve was available, but Matt Dea will play on those guys and we've got some players that are certainly capable of covering them.
"It's a real key to them winning and we've got to make sure we negate that as best we can."
While a win against St Kilda last week has lifted spirits at Punt Road, Hardwick said the Tigers were still aware they were "nowhere near where we need to be".
He was wary of a Brisbane Lions outfit that stunned North Melbourne in an upset win at the Gabba in round 15.
"We've just got to make sure we're on," the coach said.
"A big loss for them is (Jack) Redden, he's a player I really like and admire.
"They'll be up for the challenge, I've got no doubt ... we'll have to play our best footy to beat them."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-03/inconsistency-is-hurting-us
