So one supposedly average game after 7 solid/good weeks of consistent improvement suddenly deserves instant omission from a final in favour of blokes who even haven't played a match at any level for over a month? How was someone like Newman travelling in those 8 weeks? Were the same standards applied to him and a few others? Bollocks.
So when Lennon is Newman's age, will he expect to be treated the same as a second year player? Doubt it.
Look there is no doubt that Hardwick, like many of his fellow coaches has his favourites. No argument from me on this fact. However, a second year player who showed very little defensive pressure the previous week should start looking at his own performance before looking at others. It happens in all fields of employment too. A newby has to earn their stripes in the workforce before they can be treated as equal. Same on the footy field. I'm not saying it is right, it is just the way it is. I for one have argued that Newman has not been deserving of games in the last two years, but to his credit, he was one of our better players last Sunday.