Did Grimes take a dive?Herald Sun
September 8, 2019Dylan Grimes’ close checking on Charlie Cameron had been a hot topic in the lead up to tonight’s qualifying final between Brisbane and Richmond.
Cameron was left frustrated by the tactics Grimes employed in the Round 23 clash between the teams with the Lions seeking clarification from the umpiring department.
It didn’t take long for the Cameron-Grimes battle to heat up with the Lions goalsneak awarded a free kick after he was held without the ball.
Grimes was then bumped by Eric Hipwood and dropped to the ground, and the free kick was reversed.
Bulldogs great Luke Darcy said the umpire had overreacted after Grimes’ theatrical fall.
“Oh no. That’s an unbelievable call … Grimes has taken a dive for mine,” Darcy said on Channel 7.
Ex-Saint Leigh Montagna said the umpire had been taken for a ride by the Richmond star.
“That’s the umpire not handling the occasion – the umpire got sucked in there,” he said on Triple M.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick staunchly defended Grimes and lashed those who had suggested that the flop was on.
“It’s funny isn’t it, because I look at the game in a lot of different ways, and I see guys shrugging their head and all that sort of stuff,” a frustrated Hardwick said.
“At what stage do we stop and just let them play the game? The game’s hard enough as it is. Pull their heads in, probably, a little bit, would be fair.”
Grimes had a laugh when showed the vision during a post-game interview on Channel 7.
“Oh no, I don’t know what to say about that. That’s an Academy Award,” Grimes said.
Fans on social media labelled Grimes’ act was not in the spirit of the game.
Alex Rance has really taught Dylan Grimes everything he knows.
Fine at the bare minimum.
Should be a suspension if the AFL were half serious.
Most blatant dive I’ve seen since Rance.#AFLLionsTigers
— Drunk Logic (@drunk_logic) September 7, 2019
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