Tigers address on-field behaviour after Dusty's 'two-finger salute'Nathan Schmook
afl.com.au
August 27, 2015 10:10 AMRICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers didn't like Dustin Martin's gesture to Collingwood fans last Saturday and they have addressed the players as a group since.
Martin, who delivered a two-finger 'salute' to provocative Magpies fans after kicking a goal, had his case referred to the AFL football operations department but is yet to be informed of any penalty.
Hardwick said the Tigers felt the need to address the players and make sure they focused on playing "within the confines of the game".
"We just want to control what we can control within the white lines. We didn't like it," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"We like our players to celebrate goals with their teammates, we like our players to just worry about what's happening within the white lines.
"That was just the conversation we had. It's not something we're overly rapt with, but we understand these things happen."
A charge of making "an obscene gesture" usually carries a base penalty of $1500 for a first offence, and $2500 for a second offence.
Martin had a past charge of making an offensive gesture and received a $2000 suspended fine for making a handcuffs signal during the Tigers' 2013 elimination final.
Richmond faces Essendon on Saturday night, but there is intense focus on what the team can achieve this season now that finals have been locked in and top four is a possibility.
Hardwick said his match committee would not be tempted to rest players, with one change likely this week if defender Dylan Grimes was cleared to return from a hamstring injury.
"We'll see how he trains today and obviously he's got to get through training, but he'll certainly put his hand up," Hardwick said.
"He's missed two weeks obviously, and our side has played pretty well over the course of those two weeks that he's been out.
"It's going to be a tough call match committee wise, do we bring him in or stick with what we know?"
Reece Conca won't be available to return and won't play at VFL level either, with the midfielder "a week or two behind" in his return from a hamstring injury, putting his place for finals in jeopardy.
"It's been a disappointing year for Reece so far, but that's not to say it mightn't be his most important year as it goes on," Hardwick said.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-27/tigers-address-onfield-behaviour-after-dustys-twofinger-salute
