One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Memorable Moments => Topic started by: one-eyed on March 07, 2006, 04:04:32 AM
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RFC Memorable Moment #5:
"Every Dog has its Day"
Richmond opened the 2001 season with a comfortable 5 goal win over the Dees with Richo back and firing after missing most of 2000 due to a fractured foot. The Tigers were expected to have too much tall firepower to be troubled by the Bulldogs in round 2 but all that went out the window with an off the ball incident in the beginning moments of the match.
Rex's call of the incident on 3aw - "Knights has been assassinated!"
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/3awcall_r2_2001.mpg
A clip of the aftermath of the Libba/Knights incident: http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/libba_incident_r2_2001.mpg
Spud at quarter time shows Knighter to the umps:
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/spudandknighter_r2_2001.mpg
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Teams - Round 2, 2001
SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2001, 2.10PM AT THE MCG
RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Richmond
B: Torney Bourke Biddiscombe
HB: A.Kellaway Gaspar Hilton
C: J.Bowden Campbell Cameron
HF: Tivendale Holland Richardson
F: Chaffey Ottens Rogers
R: Hall, Daffy, Knights
INT: Gale, Fiora, Sziller, D.Kellaway
EMG: Broderick, Dragicevic, Vardy
IN: D.Kellaway
OUT: C.King (foot sprain)
Western Bulldogs
B: Curley Croft Harrison
HB: Smith Ellis Robbins
C: Dimattina West Johnson
HF: Cox Grant Eagleton
F: Hudson Hunter Brown
R: Darcy, Romero, Liberatore
INT: Bartlett, Murphy, Hahn, Penny
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Blood at the G
By Rod Nicholson
afl.com.au
Saturday, April 07, 2001
THE AFL will investigate an off-the-ball incident sparked by feisty Western Bulldog Tony Liberatore that left Richmond star Matthew Knights a blood-splattered mess yesterday at the MCG.
Liberatore was not reported and there is no video of the incident which ignited a melee, but the AFL will instigate an inquiry.
Liberatore was the focus of a fiery opening minute in which Knights and his new captain, Wayne Campbell, retaliated and are almost certain to be reported tomorrow on video evidence.
A blood-drenched Knights ran 20m swinging punches at Liberatore after the initial incident. Tiger teammate Wayne Campbell already had swooped on the nuggety Bulldog veteran and 1990 Brownlow medallist.
Richmond officials privately expect video reports of both Knights and Campbell, and the mood in the Tiger den last night suggests the players will accuse Liberatore of provoking their angry response.
Tiger coach Danny Frawley said he did not see the initial incident, but added: ''Richmond Football Club are a really proud club and it will be payback time at some stage.''
He said Knights told him he did not know what had happened (how he had sustained the split forehead).
''Every dog has its day, excuse the pun,'' Frawley said.
Frawley was clearly still upset at quarter time, making sure the umpires could see the damage done to Knights' forehead.
''I'm not sure what happened but one of our leaders has got multiple stitches. Maybe he fell on his shoelaces,'' he said sarcastically.
''It's not something we want to promote, that's for sure.''
When asked if he was concerned about possible repercussions for Knights from the incident, after he clearly appeared to strike Liberatore in retaliation, Frawley said of his former skipper: ''Well he's only human.''
Western Bulldog coach Terry Wallace said ''officials will deal with whatever needs to be adjudicated on''.
Wallace said he doubted Liberatore's teammates responded as they did only when they realised it was the popular small man in the thick of the action.
''When the heat of the battle is on everyone is emotional. That has been the same for 30 years,'' he said. ''The trick is to keep your eye on the ball.''
The AFL will be under pressure to launch an immediate and intense investigation.
Yesterday's ugly clash follows an off-the-ball incident in the opening round last weekend, when Collingwood's Paul Licuria went down behind play. Magpie players blamed Hawthorn's Aaron Lord and remonstrated.
However, the investigation fizzled when Licuria said he could not remember anything of the incident and there was no video to expose the culprit.
That clearly will not be the case with Liberatore, given Tiger skipper Campbell was instantly on the scene to support the man he replaced as captain at the start of the season.
Knights was forced from the field and required six stitches. He returned with his head swathed in a head bandage, but had to leave the field several times when the blood continued to flow.
Knights and Campbell did not shake hands with Liberatore at the end of the match. Camp bell also had to leave the field under the blood rule.
When Campbell returned to the action to man up with Liberatore, he concentrated on the opponent and gave away two free kicks.
Umpires Scott McLaren, Brett Rosebury and Shane McInerney did not make reports.
Channel Seven said they did not have video of the initial incident.
But they did have video of both Knights and Campbell launching into Liberatore.
AFL umpire chief Jeff Gieschen will inspect the tapes tomorrow morning to determine if any players have a case to answer.
Even if Liberatore's initial action is not on video, he can expect a visit from one of the AFL's three reporting officers -- Rick Lewis, John Coburn or Paul O'Halloran.
Liberatore is renowned in recent years for his nagging, scragging tactics. He has faced the AFL Tribunal on counts of scratching and gouging.
In the match yesterday he had eight kicks and three handballs in the Bulldogs' 42-point victory, but he was booed by Tiger fans every time he went near the ball after the opening minute incident.
At 35 he now is on the club's veterans' list, having played 252 games and having signed a new contract at the end of last season.
FOR THE RECORD
DESPITE being involved in numerous controversies, Bulldog veteran and
Brownlow
medallist Tony Liberatore has only three convictions at the AFL
tribunal.
They are:
1998 - suspended one match for striking.
1999 - suspended three matches for clawing .
2000 - fined $2000 for sledging.
(http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/camboknighterlibba.jpg)
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Underdogs answer critics
By JAKE NIALL
The Age
AT THE MCG
RICHMOND 2.4 4.7 5.9 9.15 (69)
BULLDOGS 4.0 7.2 11.6 17. 9 (111)
Goals:
Western Bulldogs: C Grant 4 R Smith 3 B Johnson 2 P Hudson 2 T Bartlett 2 S West L Darcy N Brown J Romero.
Richmond: M Richardson 2 R Hilton D Kellaway B Ottens M Dragicevic A Fiora R Hall B Gale.
Best:
Western Bulldogs: R Smith S West C Grant B Johnson B Harrison M Croft S Cox.
Richmond: R Hilton G Tivendale L Cameron D Kellaway M Richardson.
Injuries:
Richmond: D Bourke (knee) replaced in selected side by M Dragicevic, B Ottens (ankle), N Daffy (strained knee), B Holland (corked thigh).
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: S McLaren, B Rosebury, S McInerney.
Official crowd: 36,427 at MCG.
TOO small. Not enough depth. Had their chances over the years. Definitely in decline. Still relying on Liberatore and Romero and smoke and mirrors.
We have said it about the Western Bulldogs too many times and, under Terry Wallace's crafty management, reports of their demise have often proven premature.
The Bulldogs are written off more often than the corporate lunch. After last weekend's loss to Saint Malcolm, we media types repeated our folly by all but declaring Richmond over the line. The Tigers had plastered Melbourne and, on a warm autumn afternoon at the MCG, Richo and co would be too tall for the Western Munchkins.
The Bulldogs have a nasty habit of making pundits look stupid and a satisfied Wallace was happy to remind ``outsiders'' - code for the media - that they had gotten it so horribly wrong. Again.
``I've probably got a little more faith in my players than others have in my players,'' he said pointedly.
``You know, it's been suggested that we've been heading down the list for a while and, you know, the players keep standing up and offering themselves and putting their bodies on the line.''
You can see how the punditry misread the match. We thought height would prevail, whereas skill and endeavor proved more crucial. Richmond's size advantage, personified by the Brad Ottens-Matthew Richardson tandem in attack, was fresh in our minds. Forgotten was the no-less significant edge in foot skills enjoyed by the underdoggies, who have a record of using the ball pretty well since their rebirth at the end of 1996.
This was the major difference between the sides yesterday in a match that was sorely lacking drama, besides the spiteful Matthew Knights-Tony Liberatore incident and its immediate aftermath.
Richmond had nearly as much football. But, as the Tigers went forward, they suffered a Groundhog Day-like relapse of their late 1990s brand of turnover football. The Dogs would mass in defence waiting for the ball to return to them and, as the match wore on, they were seldom disappointed.
From the moment Knights hit the deck and angry Tigers converged on predictable provocateur Libba, the game was played on the Bulldogs' terms. The Tigers kicked it high and wide but seldom handsome. The Dogs ran and pin-pointed leading forwards, particularly Chris Grant.
Wayne Campbell, clearly keen to fly the skipper's flag, did not help matters by giving away a couple of centre-square frees that led to those early Bulldog goals.
After 10 minutes, it was three goals to zip and you had the feeling that the bad Richmond had shown up.
While the scoreline didn't really look ugly until the third quarter and the Tiges were within range throughout the first half (they were on top for much of the first quarter), they were always in pursuit and never in true control.
The Richmond wreckers were a mix of usual suspects - Rohan Smith, Brad Johnson, Grant - and novelty acts such as Simon Cox and Ben Harrison.
The latter rubbed his old team's face in the MCG turf with a terrific game, particularly in the first half.
The difference in finish was evident, not only in delivery to forwards, but in scoring attempts. The Tigers missed too many, while the Dogs, led by the long-range missiles from Smith's boot, kicked some beauties.
When it was over, Wallace was asked about the game, giving his vertically challenged defence ``confidence''.
The coach, as ever, was quick with the jab. ``We've got a lot of confidence. We don't have to go looking for it. It's others that perhaps need confidence in us.''
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Frawley vows revenge on Dogs after spiteful defeat
By Paul Gough
Saturday, April 07, 2001
afl.com.au
RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley tonight vowed his club would take revenge on the Western Bulldogs for a controversial off the ball clash between Bulldog rover Tony Liberatore and former Tigers skipper Matthew Knights at the MCG today.
The incident, which happened in the opening minute of the game, overshadowed the Bulldogs' upset 17.9 (111) to 9.15 (69) victory over the disappointing Tigers.
Knights left the field with his face covered in blood after the incident but not before knocking Liberatore to the ground in retaliation and then appearing to punch his rival as players from both sides ran in from everywhere.
As the game threatened to get out of control, the Bulldogs settled by far the quicker and booted the first three goals of the game as the Tigers appeared more focused on 'evening up.'
After the game Frawley said he did not see the incident, which caused Knights to go the ground initially, but said his club would not forget it when the teams met again in Round 17.
'The Richmond Football Club is a really proud club and it will be payback time at some stage,' Frawley said.
'Every dog has its day, excuse the pun.'
Frawley was clearly still upset at quarter time, making sure the umpires (who made no reports) could see the damage done to Knights' forehead in the incident.
'I'm not sure what happened but one of our leaders has got multiple stitches , maybe he fell on his shoelaces,' he said.
'It's not something we want to promote, that's for sure.'
When asked if he was concerned about possible repercussions for Knights from the incident, after he clearly appeared to strike Liberatore in retaliation, Frawley said of his former skipper - 'Well he's only human.'
Bulldogs' coach Terry Wallace said he did not see the incident but added his club had steeled itself for a ferocious performance today after the criticism it received following last week's opening round loss to St Kilda.
'We needed to make a stand and play a tough, hard game of football,' he said.
The Bulldogs certainly did that as their midfield dominated through Scott West (23 possessions) and Brad Johnson (24 and two goals) while their work in pushing back in numbers to crowd Richmond's forward line worked perfectly.
Richmond's much-vaunted attack, which kicked 20 goals last week, was so bad that Matthew Richardson with two goals was their only multiple goalkicker as the Tigers repeatedly turned the ball over while trying to find a teammate in their crowded forward line.
The Bulldogs in contrast moved the ball far better and had winners in attack in Chris Grant (four goals) and Rohan Smith, who capped off a best on ground display with three goals.
Richmond's miserable day was completed when key trio Nick Daffy (strained knee), Ben Holland (corked thigh) and Brad Ottens (ankle) all left the field injured but the club is hoping all will be fit for next week's MCG clash against Brisbane.
Later the Sunday Herald Sun reported that the AFL would investigate the off-the-ball melee during the Richmond-Western Bulldogs match.
In a front page story featuring pictures of a blood-splattered Matthew Knights, it said AFL umpire chief Jeff Gieschen would inspect tapes tomorrow morning to determine whether any players had a case to answer.
The report said the umpires did not make a report and Channel Seven said it did not have videotape of the initial incident which sparked the confrontation.
But it did have videotape of 'Knights and (Richmond captain Wayne) Campbell launching into Liberatore', the Sunday Herald Sun said.
It said Richmond officials privately expected video reports of the pair, but they were likely to accuse Liberatore of provoking them.
(http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/bandagedknighter.jpg)
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Dogs stay cool, Tigers lose the plot
By JAKE NIALL
Monday, April 9, 2001.
afl.com.au
WHAT IT MEANS
The Tigers have seldom, if ever, been so poor since Danny Frawley became coach. Their disposal was awful. The marking forwards that had terrorised Melbourne had little chance, with the ball being kicked high and wide of the mark.
It was clear that several players, including skipper Wayne Campbell, were unable to control their emotions in the critical moments that followed the decking of Matthew Knights early in the first quarter. The Tiges were so honest last year that Saturday's meltdown should, at this early stage, be viewed as an aberration.
PLAYER WATCH
Greg Tivendale cemented a spot in the Tiger 22 last year; this year, he should become one of the club's top-dozen players. On Saturday, when only a handful of Tigers were up to scratch, the young left-footer stood up, especially in the first half.
NEXT ROUND
The Tigers have a testing assignment against Brisbane; fortunately, the venue is the MCG rather than the Gabba. Nick Daffy (knee) must be doubtful, but the club believes that Brad Ottens (ankle) and Ben Holland (corked thigh) will be right for the Lions game.
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Bulldog needs to take stock
By ROBERT WALLS
The Age
Monday, April 9 ,2001
If Tony Liberatore was responsible for the felling of Matthew Knights 100 metres off the ball at the MCG on Saturday, then he should give the game away. And, if he was responsible and feels the need to soldier on, then his club should do him a favor and insist that he retire.
If Liberatore caused the split in Knight's forehead, then it has to be the last straw in a list of unsavory incidents that have sullied the Brownlow medallist's past few seasons.
There has been much to admire about Liberatore's career. He has had to fight the odds to survive, but in recent years it has been sad to see him desperately clinging to a career that he knows is slipping away fast.
His coach, Terry Wallace, has kept him on the knife-edge. Perhaps Wallace thinks this is the best way to get some value from Liberatore. But what price do you put on sledging and scraping?
If Liberatore split the unsuspecting Knight's head open, then he has become a pathetic figure on our football fields. Knights being split open in the thick of the action is far more acceptable. Being in the contest you expect the whacks to come. But, if he was felled 100 metres away from the contest, then Knights, his wife, his young son and the game itself deserve much better.
Even Liberatore's Bulldog teammates must be sick and tired of continually defending him when retaliation occurs. Of course, publicly they would never say so, but in recent years I'm sure Chris Grant, Brad Johnson, Scott West and Rohan Smith would much prefer to be playing the fine football they are capable of rather than be forced to fly the flag for a teammate who too often stirs the pot.
If Liberatore did a job on Knights, you can only hope that his conscience forces him to have a real strong think about where he stands in the football world.
Life goes on, way beyond his present 35 years. He needs to reflect on the good times, the respect, the camaraderie that football has given him.
But, if he continues on the way he has in recent years, resorting to dirty deeds to hang on to a place in the team, then it will be blood-stained money that he takes. And that, for Tony Liberatore, would be a sad, undignified way to end a career.
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Liberatore under scrutiny
By GREG DENHAM
The Australian
Monday, April 9, 2001.
Controversial Western Bulldogs' tagger Tony Liberatore will today become the centre of an AFL investigation into an incident in which Richmond's Matthew Knights was felled behind play at the MCG on Saturday.
It is believed that the field umpires will this morning lodge a notice of investigation with the league as to why Knights was forced off the ground under the blood rule soon after the start.
The former Richmond captain left the field with blood streaming down his face. He missed the rest of the quarter and had seven stitches inserted in a wound above his right eye.
It is also believed no video of the incident is available from Channel Seven, so the AFL will engage its investigations officer Rick Lewis to head the probe.
The incident sparked remonstrations from both Knights and Tigers' captain Wayne Campbell, who are likely to be cited on striking and wrestling charges later today.
Knights directed his feelings towards the Bulldogs' interchange bench as he left the field for treatment and had to be physically restrained by Richmond doctor Chris Bradshaw.
Knights started the game outside the centre square, opposed to Matthew Robbins and after a tangle with Robbins, he ran towards Liberatore who was about to pick him up.
It is also believed Richmond will give evidence that Knights was contacted to the face by a sharp jab.
Western Bulldogs football manager Paul Armstrong said yesterday he was disappointed that no video from behind the goals had been provided.
``That may have told us the whole story,'' Armstrong said. ``Obviously there will be an investigation and we'll cooperate fully with the investigator.''
If charged, Liberatore, the 1990 Brownlow medallist, would be fronting the AFL Tribunal for the sixth time in the past four years.
In 1998, he escaped a charge of scratching the face of Brisbane's Steven Lawrence, but was suspended for one match for striking in the preliminary final.
The following year, he was cleared of a kicking charge, against Brisbane's Michael Voss, but was suspended for three matches from that same round-10 game after being found guilty of clawing the face of Lions' forward Craig McRae. Last year, he was found guilty of using abusive language against West Coast's Fraser Gehrig and fined $2000.
While the Tigers will sweat on video charges against Knights and Campbell, they also have injury worries, headed by Nick Daffy's left knee, which he hurt in the opening quarter against the Bulldogs.
In a blow for Richmond, Daffy will miss at least the next four weeks as he is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to repair damaged medial cartilage.
As well, late withdrawal David Bourke will miss another two or three matches after surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his knee.
Key players Brad Ottens and Ben Holland will require fitness tests this week before being considered against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday. Ottens turned his ankle, while Holland corked a thigh in the first half.
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Libba may not be safe
By Geoff Poulter
Herald-Sun
Sunday, April 08, 2001
FOOTBALL'S unwritten code of honour is unlikely to save Tony Liberatore from yet another controversial visit to the AFL tribunal for his part in the Matthew Knights incident.
Richmond may be forced to find a cure for ''Monday Amnesia'' in order to defend retaliators Knights and skipper Wayne Campbell against possible video charges from Saturday's MCG clash.
If the AFL doesn't beat them to it, the Tigers are likely to lodge a complaint about the behind-the-play clash that resulted in a bloodied Knights looking as though he was on the wrong end of a bar-room brawl and a sizeable melee.
While he has only three tribunal convictions, Liberatore, 35, has been one of the league's most controversial players.
The battling Bulldog has been a key figure in several unsavoury incidents, including stoushes with Lions Craig McRae and Steve Lawrence and Sydney's Paul Kelly.
Significantly, there appears to be no video evidence of the Knights-Liberatore clash, which means Richmond will need to adopt a tell-all policy for league investigators.
Yesterday the Tigers were still fuming about opening quarter fracas that forced Knights to the bench for six stitches to this forehead.
They will meet at 8am this morning to decide their course of action.
''It is something that we haven't yet formed our full position on, we will weigh it up,'' football operations manager Trevor Poole said.
''We are considering it very delicately in the sense that it is not something you can say let's just pass it over.
''We have to get to the players involved . . . and Knighter is one of those obviously . . . these people will have to be brought together.
''(They) have to be rallied together so we are all clear on whether we want to do anything about it.
''We'll meet and consider it deeply and appropriately.
''I don't think it (the Tigers' dilemma) is in any way related to the Collingwood (last week) incident.''
Tiger coach Danny Frawley said: ''Every dog has his day'' on Saturday night. Libba's day may come this week if the claims of an eyewitness prove correct.
A radio talkback caller, who claimed to be an AFL club forward scout, said he saw the Liberatore-Knights incident.
''I saw everything ... my job there was to watch the Bulldogs,'' the scout, who identified himself as Damien, told Triple M yesterday.
''I looked towards the centre and saw Knights running towards the wing and he was looking at the ball ... what was happening in the play.
''Liberatore turned around and saw him and ... started charging towards him and bang, that left arm of his came up and bang.''
The furore that erupted over the Knights-Liberatore clash could have a costly postscript.
It's likely the AFL will cite players from both teams for being involved in a melee. One of the field umpires is expected lodge a notice of investigation as to why Knights had to leave the field.
Whether to lay video charges will be decided when league scrutineers view all available TV footage of the game.
Seven Network's corporate development director Simon Francis said yesterday there were end cameras focused down the ground at all eight AFL matches.
But he said it was unsure whether the behind-the-play incident involving Knights was on film as the cameramen were instructed to follow the ball.
If there's no videotape of the incident, the AFL will call in its investigations officer Rick Lewis to interview players, officials and any independent witnesses.
Richmond ruckman Brendon Gale can expect a call from Lewis after suggestion on TV yesterday that some players had witnessed what happened but would be reluctant to talk about it.
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By Monday every footy journo was having his/her say in one of the hotest footy stories ever.
No more cones of silence
By Mike Sheahan
Herald-Sun
Sunday, April 08, 2001
TONY Liberatore is in trouble. Again. Right up to his ginger beers.
This time, it matters for nought that he is just 163cm. Even at Luke Darcy's 196cm, he still would be in it up to his ears.
What we have is an incident, a bloodied victim, and clear evidence that both the victim and a body of on-lookers is certain it knows the identity of the assailant.
A few of them hinted they would take the law into their own hands at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, but didn't, and now it's where it belongs: with the authorities.
The uproar and outrage over the weekend demands both an official AFL investigation of exactly what happened to Matthew Knights, and referral to the AFL Tribunal.
If the AFL investigator in this case runs head-first into the cone of silence, as usual, and can't assemble sufficient evidence to lay a charge, he should feel compelled to refer the matter to the tribunal and ask it to unravel the mystery.
Dare the parties to play blind, deaf and dumb in front of Brian Collis and company. We must have a conclusion to this affair.
The front pages of the sports sections of Victoria's two Sunday papers carried photographs of Knights looking like he had been set upon in a pub brawl, and pummelled into submission.
It is publicity of the worst kind. As much as certain sections of the football fraternity lament the lack of biffo in the modern game, biffo belongs to a previous era and those still mired in the past.
The greater good of the game is not served by incidents in which players are hurt off the ball.
The normally unflappable Knights went troppo on Saturday, clearly of the belief he had been unfairly treated.
He was hurt during the opening five minutes, and still was angry and flustered when the final siren sounded.
All we know officially is that Knights suffered a blow to the forehead, delivered by an unknown person, with the strong implication it was Liberatore.
It is now beholden of Knights, Wayne Campbell, who obviously lost his cool as a result of the incident, and anyone else who believes they know what happened to tell their story.
Monday memory lapses won't do any longer. Players who choose to forget what they thought they saw when confronted by an investigator should have to say so publicly, and bear the consequences.
The appropriate course of action, the mature course of action, is to assist the authorities with their inquiries. Warnings of paybacks are rubbish and ill-considered.
This is not the schoolyard. It is the AFL. Richmond coach Danny Frawley will be embarrassed today by his post-match promise of ''payback time at some stage'', presumably the return match in Round 17.
That's not the right way to sort things out, and, just as a matter of interest, who does he have at Richmond to do any squaring up?
A few old-timers from the Richmond teams of the early 1980s, maybe? Captain Blood, perhaps?
Frawley was entitled to be angry, but justice is the responsibility of those in charge of the game.
As for Liberatore, we are tempted, but our culture says we should wait until we are privy to all the facts.
Suffice to say, it doesn't look good for the player who was quoted in the Herald-Sun last year as saying ''footy is like going to war,'' but he is entitled to natural justice.
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Opening up the wounds
By Patrick Smith
The Australian
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
RICHMOND Football Club, Monday morning, 11 o'clock:
Mark Brayshaw is chief executive of Richmond Football Club. Has been for a couple of years. He is trying desperately to change the culture of the club. Few people have done that anywhere in any sport. It has fallen to Brayshaw to also change the culture of AFL football. By 11am yesterday he was not returning calls.
Earlier Brayshaw had been more forthcoming, articulating his problem on radio. Richmond, who last year under Brayshaw and coach Danny Frawley suspended two players for alcohol-related breaches, are
trying to remake their image and their environment. Brayshaw said the club was attempting to be honest with themselves and their public.
The suspensions of Brad Ottens and Nick Daffy last season were tendered as evidence of that. Now, Brayshaw found himself in a position to make football itself accountable.
Richmond have two -- Matthew Knights and Wayne Campbell -- of the three players central to the bloody mess that was the first five minutes of the Tigers-Bulldogs match last Saturday. The third player,
of course, is Tony Liberatore. The Bulldog clashed with Knights, who ended up dripping blood and needing six stitches to his forehead.
Campbell was enraged by what he saw and remonstrated, well sort of, with Liberatore. But Richmond could only make football accountable if Knights and Campbell recalled with clarity and honesty what happened
in that mad moment on the MCG. That would go against a century of footy culture. Not long after that radio interview Brayshaw effectively took his phone off the hook.
However, Richmond's position in this investigation had been firmly and morally established already. Frawley did that at quarter-time when he dragged Knights to the edge of the centre square and demanded
the umpires look at the bandage wrapped around Knights' forehead. At that moment Frawley was demanding the umpires act. They have, lodging a notice of investigation both of the Knights-Liberatore incident and
a second to establish just what the hell Frawley thought he was doing.
But Frawley and Brayshaw's problem is obvious enough. Frawley's actions meant he wanted an investigation and having got one, it is now incumbent on Richmond to co-operate expansively with the investigations officer Rick Lewis. And that is what they decided to do. Knights took it on the forehead, he won't take it on the chin.
Frawley has other concerns. The response from his team on Saturday was limp. The Western Bulldogs expected that. Having identified their own lack of aggression the week before, the Bulldogs determined to
address that on Saturday. And they no doubt knew there was no better team to do that against than the Tigers. Richmond have been tagged as soft. Saturday only underscored that. Frawley and his men can now
expect the fiercest scrutiny from every other team. They are this year's marshmallows.
AFL Headquarters, Docklands, before you've had your second coffee:
Things are a tad tense. The AFL has problems, too. Big ones. This is the second incident in two weeks. Last time the key players had trouble remembering their first names never mind what happened. Paul
Licuria and Aaron Lord clashed. Licuria felt something and fell to the ground; Lord felt contact but couldn't make head nor tail, elbow or shoulder of what caused it. Investigation dropped through lack of
active brain cells.
So if nothing comes of this Libba incident, if another player is seen to be struck behind play and the AFL processes incapable of administering justice, then the AFL is impotent. A bucket full of Viagra wouldn't help save its integrity. The officials know that; know this is a crucial week for the AFL.
Andrew Demetriou makes a decision. If there is an investigation and the players' memories prove as reliable as the 9am out of Sydney then Demetriou will report Liberatore. The players can do their explaining to tribunal chief Brian Collis, who has the power to suspend players with broken brains.
Whitten Oval, Footscray, mid-morning, black coffee all-round:
Bulldog heavies meet. President David Smorgon, coach Terry Wallace, football manager Paul Armstrong, chief executive Mark Patterson, football director Jim Edmond and, of course, Libba. What to do? The club has taken a trashing over the past 36 hours. People are reading everything into anything. There's the report that Wallace patted Libba on the head after the game. To some that was evidence that Libba had acted under instruction. So Libba decides to put his hand up for the second time in three days. Bulldog heavies duck. Libba
appreciates the club is concerned that its recent past scratching, clawing etc has been less than savoury.
Whitten Oval, 2pm, estimate nearly 70 journalists lob for media conference. Or there's a free lunch.
It's a media conference. Crowd immediately halved. Terry Wallace on the left, Smorgon in the middle and Libba on the right. Wallace says he has been concerned with the speculation over the role of Libba in Saturday's incident. Then it is over to Libba. The Bulldog says he is distraught with the innuendo and speculation. It is time to state his case. Libba's no fibber. Yes, he did make contact with Knights but here is how and why. The Richmond player was running towards him.
Libba lifted his arm in self-defence and contact was made but it was not deliberate. Instinctive, yes. Spontaneous, yes. Pre-meditated, absolutely not. Libba apologises to Knights. Sorry about the gash, fella.
AFL Headquarters, God not another coffee, late afternoon:
Rick Lewis, AFL's chief interrogator gets the call. Big boy, you're on. Libba spilt blood now he has spilt his guts. Go see if Knights is of the same mind. Talk to Campbell, too. Maybe he has stopped running around in circles by now. Talk to Frawley. Talk to the umpires. Just don't do talkback.
Bottom line, skinny latte with two sugars, to hell with the diet:
Football has pulled itself back from the brink. Had this matter come to nothing football would have taken a body blow far more debilitating than the one suffered by Knights. It is a milestone of sorts. Football's irresponsible code of silence has been cut if not broken. It will be hard to stop the bleeding from here.
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With no footage of the actual incident (thanks to Ch 7's lack of cameras), the AFL launched an inquiry into the incident:
Tigers pair co-operate with inquiry
By Michael Gleeson
Herald-Sun
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
RICHMOND skipper Wayne Campbell is understood to have told AFL investigators he saw the bloody clash between Matthew Knights and Tony Liberatore.
The Tigers' players and coaches vowed yesterday to ''co-operate fully'' with the AFL investigation and say exactly what they saw.
This is understood to mean they would ignore the unwritten players' code of conduct not to incriminate an opponent.
Campbell was the first player on the scene and remonstrated violently with Liberatore after the first-quarter clash.
Last night he and Knights met AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis to be quizzed over the incident. The investigation is expected to be completed by noon today.
In a day of drama, accused Bulldog little man Liberatore took the bold move of publicly admitting he struck Knights with his arm, but said it was in self-defence after Knights ran at him.
Knights suffered a gash to the head requiring six stitches from the off-the-ball incident in the opening minutes of the game.
Reading from a prepared statement, Liberatore apologised to Knights.
''I want to put my side of the incident as there has been much innuendo and allegations concerning this matter that does not reflect the incident,'' Liberatore told a packed media conference at the Whitten Oval.
''I reacted in self-defence to Matthew Knights running at me. I lifted my arm and this made contact with Matthew.
''The act was not premeditated and it was a spontaneous reaction and I acted instinctively.
''I certainly regret the outcome of the incident, however contact was certainly not deliberate.
''I apologise to Matthew for the outcome.''
Channel 7 yesterday confirmed it did not have footage of the clash, despite the end-to-end cameras behind the goals at the ground.
A spokesman said the cameras followed the action and didn't catch the incident.
Richmond officials were surprised by the Bulldogs' decision to make public comments about the clash during an AFL investigation.
''It comes as a bit of a surprise, yes, I would have to admit that,'' Tigers football manager Trevor Poole said.
''Whether it helps or hinders the process of the investigation only time will tell.''
The incident in Saturday's game sparked a scuffle that is also under AFL investigation.
Comments by Tigers coach Danny Frawley after the game, saying there would be payback, are also being investigated.
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson said Lewis was probing all issues from the match.
''Our football operations people have asked Rick to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry and we are aware of comments that were made after the game,'' Jackson said.
He said he didn't believe a code of silence still existed.
''That may well have been there 20 or 30 years ago, but young men today have a sense of what is right or wrong on the field more so than maybe we did 30 years ago,'' Jackson said.
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Dogs fuming over non reports
By Paul Gough
afl.com.au
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
MELBOURNE, April 10 AAP - The Western Bulldogs were resigned to losing Tony Liberatore to suspension after he was charged with striking today, but are privately fuming Richmond pair Matthew Knights and Wayne Campbell will not be facing similar charges.
While Campbell and Knights will have to appear at tomorrow night`s hearing, they have only been charged with being engaged in a melee while Liberatore was booked for striking Knights by AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis.
Eleven other players were also charged with being involved in a melee, a charge which normally only carries a fine rather than a suspension, as the investigation into Saturday`s fiery MCG match was completed.
The melee occurred following the controversial off-the-ball clash between Knights and Liberatore during the first minute of the Bulldogs` win over Richmond.
The other players charged are Richmond`s Steven Sziller, Matthew Rogers, Matthew Richardson, Brad Ottens and Ben Holland, and Bulldogs Nathan Brown, Craig Ellis, Rohan Smith, Matthew Robbins, Luke Darcy and Kingsley Hunter.
And Richmond coach Danny Frawley has been sent a `please explain` letter by the AFL for his post-game comments about the incident.
Most of the Bulldogs and Richmond players are expected to plead guilty to the melee involvement.
Liberatore will plead guilty to striking Knights after admitting he struck the former Richmond skipper yesterday and as a result can expect a suspension.
While there is no television footage of Liberatore`s clash with Knights, which left the latter`s face covered in blood, there was footage of the immediate aftermath which appeared to show both Knights and Campbell strike Liberatore.
But the Bulldogs were shocked to learn today that neither had been reported for striking or even the lesser charge of attempting to strike.
`I don`t know what Knights and Campbell were doing afterwards then,` was the comment of one Bulldogs` official.
Richmond officials confirmed today that Campbell and Knights would co-operate `fully` at tomorrow`s hearing, meaning they will tell the tribunal they saw Liberatore strike Knights.
However Liberatore said yesterday he had struck Knights in self-defence after the Richmond veteran ran at him just after the start of Saturday`s game.
`I reacted in self-defence to Matthew Knights running at me,` he said.
`I lifted my arm and made contact with Matthew.
`The act was not premeditated and it was a spontaneous reaction.
`I certainly regret the outcome of the incident, however contact was certainly not deliberate.` The clash left Knights prostrate on the turf with Richmond skipper Campbell immediately running in to remonstrate violently with Liberatore.
Knights, a player renowned for his self-control, then got to his feet and appeared to aim several punches at Liberatore.
It is not the first time Liberatore, the 1990 Brownlow medallist, has found himself the subject of controversy for his on-field behaviour.
The AFL`s smallest player was previously suspended for clawing at the face of Brisbane`s Craig McRae in 1999 while his close-checking tactics first came under the microscope in 1997 when Sydney skipper Paul Kelly was covered in scratches after being tagged all day by Liberatore.
It will be the seventh time the 35-year-old veteran of 252 games has faced the tribunal, but six of them have been in the last three years.
While he was found not guilty of kneeing in 1993, face scratching in 1998 and kicking in 1999, he has previously been found guilty of striking and abusive language as well as the charge of clawing McRae.
Meanwhile Frawley could be censured by the league for his comments on the Liberatore-Knights` clash after Saturday`s game.
`The Richmond Football Club is a really proud club and it will be payback time at some stage,` was the comment from Frawley that upset league heavyweights.
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Spud tries to do his best to avoid a fine over his "payback time" comments :lol
Frawley says he's sorry
By CAROLINE WILSON and GREG DENHAM
The Age
Wednesday, April 11, 2001.
Richmond coach Danny Frawley yesterday apologised for his emotional outburst after last Saturday's incident involving Tony Liberatore and Matthew Knights at the MCG.
Frawley, who angrily led Knights past the umpires at the quarter-time break pointing to his midfielder's bleeding forehead, and later vowed his club would be preparing for ''payback time'', told The Age yesterday he regretted his public reaction.
''I shouldn't have done what I did and I regret it now,'' said Frawley, of the incident that will tonight see Liberatore face a striking charge and 13 other players appear before the AFL Tribunal for engaging in the melee that followed the incident.
''I'd never felt that way as a coach and hopefully I've learned from the experience,'' Frawley said. ''I was the spokesperson for the Richmond Football Club and the members, but in hindsight I wasn't acting in the best interests of the game.''
Frawley last night received a please explain from the AFL on two counts and could face the tribunal for his actions. His apology earlier yesterday followed Liberatore's public apology to Knights on Monday in which the 35-year-old Bulldog said he had acted in self-defence.
The AFL believes Frawley's quarter-time actions could fall under the ''threatening conduct'' rule, which could result in a tribunal appearance or a fine of up to $10,000.
His after-match comments, which included the line, ''Every dog has his day, pardon the pun'', fall under ''conduct unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL''. If taken further, Frawley could face another tribunal fine.
''I'm emotional, I don't deny that,'' said Frawley. ''It's an emotional game. I thought I was acting in the best interests of one of my players in Matty Knights, but unfortunately what's been lost in all of this is that the Bulldogs had a terrific win. Terry Wallace did a good job.
''And we were badly beaten. Hopefully we will handle those situations a lot better next time. We've got to come up against Brisbane this week and we've got a chance to redeem ourselves.''
As the ill-feeling between Richmond and the Bulldogs continued yesterday, Frawley attempted to defuse the situation by saying his only interest in ''payback'' against the Bulldogs involved a victory on the scoreboard.
''After the game I was trying to get across that what we had to do as a football club was to come out next time and beat the Bulldogs,'' said Frawley. ''I would never for one minute tell our players to do anything other than to go hard at the ball.''
Yesterday, Geelong coach Mark Thompson also weighed into the debate, criticising the publicity surrounding the Liberatore-Knights incident. ''It seems to be like he's (Liberatore) already been hung and it's a bit of a shame really because you don't need to look too far back before those incidents were happening on a pretty regular occasion,'' Thompson said last night at Shell Stadium.
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On Wednesday Night, April 11, 2001, the AFL Tribunal handed down a 5 week suspension to Liberatore as well as melee fines to 12 players from both clubs
The Tribunal verdicts
The Age
Thursday, April 12, 2001.
Tony Liberatore (W Bulldogs) for striking Matthew Knights (Rich) 5 matches
MELEE CHARGES
Wayne Campbell (Rich) Fined $3000
Steven Sziller (Rich) Fined $3000
Matthew Knights (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Rogers (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Richardson (Rich) Fined $2000
Brad Ottens (Rich) Fined $2000
Ben Holland (Rich) Fined $2000
Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500
Craig Ellis (W Bulldogs) Fined $3000
Luke Darcy (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Kingsley Hunter (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Matthew Robbins (W Bulldogs) Fined $2000
Rohan Smith (W Bulldogs) Cleared
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Libba outted for 5 weeks
Liberatore defiant
By LEN JOHNSON
Thursday, April 12, 2001.
Western Bulldogs tagger Tony Liberatore, suspended for five matches at the AFL Tribunal last night for what was described as ``an
unnecessary act'', maintains he did not strike Richmond's Matthew Knights deliberately.
Liberatore said during the 80-minute hearing, in which descriptions of events conflicted greatly, that he acted in self defence in the opening minutes of Saturday's match at the MCG conflicted greatly.
``Obviously, I'm very disappointed, but I accept the decision,'' Liberatore said. ``No one likes to see a player come off the ground in the way that Matthew Knights did.''
Liberatore and his advocate, Bert Gaudion, maintained Knights had contributed to the contact and its severity by running at Liberatore.
Their evidence was backed by Bulldogs' assistant coach Phil Maylin, who said Liberatore had accidentally struck Knights in a reflex action after the former Richmond skipper ran towards him. Bulldog Matthew Robbins also said Knights was running straight at Liberatore and must have heard him yell to his teammate to pick the Richmond playmaker up.
Knights testified that he had no recollection of contact, though he knew Liberatore was in his path and assumed he had made contact with him. He said he was not running at Liberatore, but that he was running Robbins, his starting opponent, around. Knights said Liberatore was forward of him.
Richmond captain Wayne Campbell, who broke the traditional players' code by giving evidence on what he saw, told the hearing he was 20 metres away and had seen the clash. ``I observed Liberatore to swing his right arm and contact Matthew to the head,'' Campbell said.
``Matthew went to the ground. I ran in to remonstrate with Liberatore and I wrestled with him so as to let him know he couldn't do this to one of our players.''
Campbell's version of events upset Liberatore. Asked if he was disappointed by Campbell's evidence, Liberatore replied: ``Obviously I am, because it wasn't the way it happened.''
Campbell's evidence was supported by Richmond assistant coach Alan Richardson, who was specifically tracking Knights' movements from the coach's box. He testified that Liberatore had struck Knights with a right arm to the head.
Liberatore said he was disappointed for both himself and the club for which has played 252 games over 16 seasons, but was more upset about his treatment by the media.
``I'm more disappointed in the way certain people in the media have reacted to the situation. The slur they've put on myself and my family is probably the most disturbing thing.''
Gaudion also said the case had been sensationalised.
``The press led us to believe he was on remand awaiting bail, while they built a public platform to have him executed,'' Gaudion said.
Gaudion also asked the tribunal to consider ``the sensationalism of Knights' bloodied appearance''. He earlier suggested to Knights that he had remained on the ground ``trying to get even'' instead of immediately going off to seek treatment.
Knights was fined $2000 after being found guilty of engaging in a melee arising out of the incident. Six other Richmond players, including Campbell, and five Bulldogs were also fined. Nathan Brown, at $3500, paid the largest share of the $29,500 total. Rohan Smith was the only player charged to be exonerated, though Knights and Kingsley Hunter also pleaded not guilty.
It was Liberatore's third suspension and fourth time he had been found guilty at the tribunal. He had previously been suspended for a week for striking, for three weeks for clawing an opponent's face and fined $2000 for abusing a player.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis said this was Liberatore's third violent offence since 1998. ``We note that contact was unnecessary and took place some considerable distance from the play.''
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Code breaker - Campbell's evidence outs Libba
afl.com.au
Thursday, April 12, 2001
RICHMOND captain Wayne Campbell last night broke new ground in AFL player ranks by helping to out Tony Liberatore for five weeks.
Campbell, terse and unwavering, told the AFL Tribunal he saw the Western Bulldogs player hit teammate Matthew Knights' head.
It was damning evidence against 35-year-old Liberatore, who was found guilty of striking Knights.
In a move that will be applauded by the AFL and fair-minded football fans, Campbell told AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis he saw the fiery incident at the MCG on Saturday from 20m away.
''He swung his right arm and contacted Matthew to the head and Matthew went to the ground,'' he said.
Campbell agreed it was a round-arm, but couldn't say if it was a coathanger.
''I'm not sure what a coathanger is,'' he said.
Campbell, appointed Tigers' captain at the start of the season, stood firm as Liberatore's advocate Bert Gaudion questioned his version of events.
Gaudion: ''I suggest to you it was his left arm.''
Campbell: ''You can make that suggestion but you would be wrong.''
Gaudion continued to probe Campbell, who hit back verbally.
''Are you saying I'm lying?'' he said.
And then: ''If I didn't see it, I'd tell you I didn't see it, but I did see it.''
Although Campbell is not the first player to break the players' code of silence on such matters -- Hawk David Polkinghorne did it against Carlton's Wayne Johnston in 1982 -- few have done so under such a bright media spotlight as Campbell.
It's understood he debated, with friends and club staff, whether to tell his version of the events, but in the end the decision was clearly an easy one. He led Knights out of last night's hearing, but would not talk to the media.
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Campbell explains why he came clean
Thursday, April 12, 2001
afl.com.au
RICHMOND captain Wayne Campbell says he decided to tell the truth about the Tony Liberatore incident because he could make a stand for footy.
Immediately after last Saturday's controversial match against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG, Campbell denied seeing who'd struck his teammate Matthew Knights behind play.
But after careful consideration and meetings with team officials, it was decided he should tell all if questioned by the AFL.
Liberatore was yesterday suspended for five matches for striking after Campbell told the tribunal he saw the Bulldogs rover swing his right arm and make contact with Knights' head.
Liberatore maintains he raised his arm in self defence as Knights ran at him.
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Dogs picked on stars
By Michael Gleeson
Herald-Sun
Saturday, April 14, 2001
THE Western Bulldogs used to put one opposition player ``in the gun`` to receive extra mental and physical attack in every match.
But Terry Wallace was forced to abandon the practice a year ago after his players continued to go too far.
Wallace said yesterday the club would nominate an opponent player a week before the game to be in the gun.
The Bulldogs` 1998 handbook, obtained by the Herald Sun, defined ``in the gun`` as ``an opposition player who has been selected prior to the game for physical and mental pressure from every member of our team``.
The Bulldogs` coach has denied Richmond`s Matthew Knights was put in the gun before last week`s clash and said the club had dropped the practice 12 months ago.
``No, it does not still apply,`` he said.
``You won`t know what a side will or won`t do on a given day, but going back a couple of seasons ago when we had those issues come up, the Gardiner one and a couple of those come up where we reckon a few of our guys had sort of stepped over the line with it.
``I don`t reckon there`s anything wrong with in the gun, if you read the definition.
``I think most clubs would have that in place. They mightn`t have a specific name for it or whatever.
``That`s the name we`ve had for it, but we reckon that a few of our boys just stepped over the line with it so we took it out about 12 months ago.
``We would say, like every other side, that `this bloke`s the key to the side, we have to give him specialised attention` and that sort of stuff, but not rough him up. We just don`t go down that path.
``If we were going to go down that path we would still have in the gun in place.`` A former Bulldog official contacted the Herald Sun with the game book, upset at the club`s denials about treatment of key opponents.
Many clubs admit to selecting a target from opposition clubs for special attention.
On Talking Footy this week Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab admitted he would nominate one vulnerable or key opponent most weeks.
Every one of his players would then have to try to apply extra physical pressure on that player where possible.
The Bulldogs players physically took on young West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner in the last game at Whitten Oval in 1997.
Dogs Steve Kretiuk, Craig Ellis and Daniel Southern were fined after being found guilty of ``threatening and aggressive behaviour``.
The trio bumped Gardiner before the first bounce.
In 1998, Paul Dimattina, Jose Romero and Tony Liberatore employed a similar tactic at the opening bounce, charging at Bomber skipper James Hird.
Last year Wallace was forced to admit the ``Dirty Dogs`` image of the club needed to be addressed after several incidents, including the sledging charges against Liberatore and Nathan Brown.
The players were both found guilty and fined for sledging West Coast`s Fraser Gehrig with a sexual slur.
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The following week the Club Presidents got into the act and the feud between the two clubs just exploded off-field
Tigers boss accuses Libba or king-hitting Knights
By Paul Gough
Saturday, April 14, 2001.
afl.com.au
Richmond president Clinton Casey today accused Western Bulldogs rover Tony Liberatore of ''king-hitting'' Matthew Knights during last week's MCG clash, re-igniting the off-field war of words between the two AFL clubs.
Casey, speaking at the official luncheon before today's home match against Brisbane, was livid that Liberatore said he was acting in self-defence at this week's tribunal hearing, when he pleaded guilty to striking Knights and received a five-match suspension.
The incident happened well behind play and was not captured on video.
While Liberatore pleaded self-defence, Richmond skipper Wayne Campbell told the tribunal he saw the Bulldog rover deliberately strike Knights but Casey was furious today that Campbell's word has been bought into question as a result of the two contrasting testimonies given to the tribunal.
``The captain of our club has been painted the villain in this episode,'' he said.
``As president of the club, I find this totally unacceptable.
``Here are some facts that have been forgotten and fact one is Matthew Knights was king hit by Tony Liberatore, right in the middle of the MCG, when he wasn't looking and when the ball was about 100 metres off the ball.''
``Fact two was our captain Wayne Campbell witnessed the entire event and at the AFL tribunal he told the truth about Tony Liberatore's treatment of Knights.''
However, Casey said the Bulldogs called a press conference the day before the tribunal hearing, in which Liberatore said he struck Knights' in self-defence, in a bid to discredit Campbell, knowing what his evidence to the tribunal was going to be.
``The press conference on Monday was called simply to invent the self-defence alibi for Tony Liberatore at the tribunal,'' he said.
Casey said in doing so the Bulldogs showed they condoned Liberatore's actions.
``Liberatore's actions have at the very least been condoned by his coach (Terry Wallace) and the Western Bulldogs president (David Smorgon).''
``The only reason you would expect a club to condone such conduct is if the players' actions were done on the club's instructions.''
Casey also called on the AFL to ensure all games were fully covered by cameras to ensure that no player was ever again placed under the pressure that Campbell experienced this week.
``After the treatment of Wayne Campbell this week, what do you think the response is going to be by a player the next time they see a similar incident?'
``It's obvious the solution is for complete camera coverage of all games and this is an issue squarely for Wayne Jackson and the AFL to solve.''
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Smorgon and Casey refuel feud
By Roger Vaughan
Sunday, April 15, 2001
RELATIONS between AFL rivals the Western Bulldogs and Richmond continued to deteriorate here today as the Liberatore-Knights controversy became a battle between the club presidents.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon publicly savaged Tigers counterpart Clinton Casey again this morning following yesterday's stunning pre-game speeches by the two men.
Speaking on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Smorgon also called on the AFL to discipline Casey and claimed he had the backing of other presidents.
Casey returned to his family holiday in Queensland this morning after two nights here, saying he had received legal advice before making yesterday's speech and stood by his comments.
Smorgon belittled Casey's attempt to contact him last night during the Bulldogs' loss to Collingwood at Colonial Stadium.
'I just wonder whether Clinton knew the Bulldogs were playing last night, because it was a (phone) message,' Smorgon told Nine.
'It was quite an amazing message ... he said 'look, it's your call, David, as far as we're concerned we're moving on and putting this behind us.
''If you want to re-open it, do so, but it's your call'.'
Smorgon again described comments in Casey's speech yesterday as 'offensive, they were defamatory' and said it would probably be the end of the week before the club received legal advice about the matter.
When asked if there was any chance of discussing the controversy privately with Casey, Smorgon tersely replied 'I wouldn't think so'.
The week-long controversy over the Tony Liberatore-Matthew Knights incident took another twist yesterday, when Casey spoke before his side's match against Brisbane at the MCG.
Casey accused Liberatore, the Bulldogs' rover, of 'king-hitting' Knights 100m off the ball in last weekend's match.
The Tigers president said Liberatore's hit, which earnt him a five-week ban, had been 'at the very least' condoned by Smorgon and coach Terry Wallace.
Smorgon retaliated a few hours later in his speech before the Collingwood game, describing Casey's comments as 'unprovoked, offensive and unprecedented.'
Smorgon said today Casey owed the football public an explanation of why he re-opened an issue that the Bulldogs president said was 'dead and buried' after the tribunal verdict.
He also denied it was a battle between the egos of two club presidents.
'This is not driven by ego whatsoever ... this is about the integrity, the reputation of my football club on behalf of our members and all the fans who follow the Bulldogs,' he said.
'He went beyond flying the flag, he went to attack our flag, attack our integrity, our honesty - I'm not going to cop that on behalf of our members.'
Casey was on holiday throughout last week's events, returning for yesterday's game.
Before flying out again today, he was clearly unconcerned by Smorgon's comments about possible legal action.
'I don't think there's anything I've said that would be construed as defamatory or in a legal sense is any problem,' Casey said.
Casey also said he had spoken to Smorgon by telephone last Monday about the matter, but the Bulldogs president had decided on his own course of action.
Smorgon wants the AFL to pull Casey into line, but the league was not commenting today.
'The AFL have a responsibility to get involved - I believe he is in breach of other rules and regulations within the AFL,' he said.
'I've had phone calls from other presidents, saying it's outrageous.
'I'm not sure of the particular rule, I just think it's unbecoming of presidents to behave like this.'
AFL chief Wayne Jackson and Smorgon apparently exchanged telephone messages last night over Casey's speech.
Wallace said he had not heard Casey's speech.
But he added it was ludicrous to suggest any coach would send a player out to deliberately take out an opponent and added he was offended and demeaned by any such allegation.
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Casey to offer Smorgon olive branch
By Daryl Timms
Herald-Sun
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
RICHMOND president Clinton Casey will today phone his Western Bulldog counterpart David Smorgon in a bid to defuse the explosive row between the two clubs.
Casey launched an extraordinary tirade at the weekend at Bulldog tagger Tony Liberatore, who was suspended for five matches after pleading guilty to striking Matthew Knights.
The Tiger boss used his president's luncheon on Saturday to criticise Liberatore, who struck Knights in an off-the-ball incident in Round 2.
Smorgon claims that Casey's comments, which he also made in radio interviews, defamed him, Liberatore and coach Terry Wallace.
He has asked the league to take appropriate action against Casey for conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.
But an unrepentant Casey said last night Smorgon should get off his soap box.
Casey said he had phoned Smorgon the Monday after the match and told him the Tigers would lodge a formal complaint unless Liberatore apologised to Knights and pleaded guilty to striking him.
''I told David Smorgon the incident was ugly and our football department, our coaches and the players wanted to take a stand against it,'' he said.
''Our club would be telling the truth and I told him that his player needed to be counselled. I thought we had agreed on the course of action and that Richmond would not say anything and would not go on the front foot.''
Casey said he had been staggered when the Bulldogs and Smorgon called a press conference on the Monday, at which Liberatore claimed he was acting in self-defence, but then pleaded guilty at the tribunal. ''David is running around talking to the AFL, talking on television and talking to the media, but why doesn't he come and talk to me?'' Casey said. ''I tried to help him in the first place. The sooner we get it sorted out, the better.''
Casey said he would phone Smorgon again today in a bid to resolve the issue.
The AFL will today study a transcript of Casey's pre-match speech before ruling whether he has breached league rules.
AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson confirmed yesterday that Smorgon had spoken to him about Casey. ''I had a long conversation with David Smorgon, and we will follow it up when we've got the actual facts as to what was claimed to have been said. We want to get the actual transcript.''
Jackson said yesterday he had not spoken to Casey.
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Wallace denies the incident was planned
There was no plan to attack Matty - Wallace
By Terry Wallace
Herald-Sun
Wednesday, April 18, 2001
LEGENDARY figure John Kennedy wandered into the cramped away rooms at the then Western Oval as special guest. We braced ourselves for the mother of all pre-match speeches.
It was 1984. Leigh Matthews was about to play his 300th. It doesn't get much bigger. Kennedy erupted and let us know all about it.
I had so much admiration for Leigh as a player I didn't want to let him down on what was his big day. Steam was coming out of my ears as I burst through the Hawthorn banner.
We had to make a stand early in the game. We had to show we were up to the challenge.
Early in the first quarter, I went for a ball on the social club flank and was confronted by a steam train named Jim Edmond coming in the opposite direction.
Within a split second I had raised my arm higher than normal and got him high with a forearm.
I was immediately reported. I remember the instant feeling of disappointment. The sickness in the guts.
A couple of days later, I fronted the tribunal. Unfortunately, I was found guilty.
But my clean record was a factor in me copping a severe reprimand. I was told never to return. I took in the warning and made sure I adhered to it.
The game of professional football is fast and the one major area of difference between AFL footy and that played in the parks is the speed and reaction time of all individuals.
Decisions must be made in microseconds and most of these are spontaneous reactions to your current environment.
Players weekly make correct and incorrect decisions throughout a game.
I believe Tony Liberatore's incident with Matthew Knights last week was also spontaneous. It was not pre-meditated.
Like most people who were there on that particular afternoon I also did not see the incident so can only deal with what I have been told by others.
As the coach of the Western Bulldogs I accept many responsibilities and certainly believe it is my duty to see the team perform to the best of its ability week in, week out.
As well as this, I take a real responsibility to try and improve my group of players as individuals both on and off the ground.
I am terribly disappointed when players step over the boundaries of what is acceptable behaviour either on or off the field.
What has stunned me in the last week is the accusation that Knights' name was circled in red on our board and that he had been made a target before the game.
Football has been my life for 24 years and even further back, growing up playing the game, I was taught always to be a ball player.
For me to then condone actions of a premeditated nature goes against everything I have learned.
And let's not forget one very important factor -- there were meant to be video cameras working and operational at the MCG on that day.
Each and every football club were told only two days previously that the dispute between Channel Seven and the AFL had come to a conclusion and that video cameras would be showing all behind the goal shots of the entire ground.
Why would any club with that knowledge then orchestrate someone to be hit off the ball knowing full well that cameras would pick up everything that took place?
In this case the only reason that it did not happen was that there was some breakdown in the operation of the cameras involved.
I just wish that breakdown had not happened. If it was captured on video, everyone would have known where they stood.
We understand there will be spontaneous reactions on the football ground on a regular basis and that players will be rubbed out for these actions.
Our club accepted the tribunal's decision and has tried to get on with the game.
I love the game of AFL football, but I enjoy it for its fast pace, high marking, great athletics and wonderful ball skills.
What sometimes concerns me is how politics grows each and every year within our game.
Everyone is working for an angle or an agenda as the money increases in the game.
I think I sometimes come from an unrealistic viewpoint of how I would like my football to be, but I want the back pages to be filled with the deeds of those on the ground rather than what happens off the field.
I just hope some time soon we can get back on with the game.
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Outbursts cost Frawley
By Michael Gleeson
Herald-Sun
Thursday, April 19, 2001
RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley has been hit with a $6000 fine for his angry outbursts following Matthew Knights' bloody clash with Bulldog Tony Liberatore.
The AFL yesterday fined Frawley $3000 and suspended another $3000.
Frawley was fined $2000 for marching Knights towards the umpires at quarter-time and pointing to the former captain's bandaged head.
He was fined $1000 for his comments at the post-game conference, when he warned there would be payback for the Bulldogs for the behind-play clash between Liberatore and Knights.
An extra $3000 fine on both charges was suspended.
AFL football operations manager Andrew Demetriou last week sent Frawley a please-explain letter over his conduct. Demetriou decided the fines.
A public apology for his behaviour last week was unable to save Frawley.
Frawley's $6000 fine follows the $7500 fine imposed by the tribunal last year on Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy for misconduct.
Sheedy pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and aggressive manner towards West Coast's Mitchell White at halftime in a match at Colonial Stadium.
He was charged after making several provocative gestures to White, including a slit-throat motion, thumping his fist into his palm and a two-fingered salute.
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Twelve days after the incident the fires were still esculating when the Doggies brought the lawyers into the feud.
Bulldogs hit Casey with legal letter
By Michael Gleeson And Mark Stevens
Herald-Sun
Thursday, April 19, 2001
THE smouldering fight that just won't go away is threatening to become a bushfire.
Richmond president Clinton Casey was yesterday hit with a legal letter from the Bulldogs.
The letter outlined the Bulldogs' anger at comments made by Casey and was accompanied by a full-page retraction and apology for Casey to sign.
Casey said he was surprised to receive the letter because he said both sides agreed to outline their grievances in the aftermath of the Tony Liberatore-Matthew Knights clash.
He was expecting personal correspondence from the Bulldogs, but instead received a letter from a major Melbourne law firm.
Smorgon last night said Casey should not have been surprised by the letter.
''I told Clinton yesterday that we were working with our lawyers and that we would send a letter . . . that's what happened,'' Smorgon said.
''I don't know what he'd be expecting or not expecting.
''He was obviously well aware both publicly and privately that I've been dealing with our lawyers and I would've thought he would've been expecting a legal letter.''
Smorgon said he could not disclose the Bulldogs' demands because it was a legal matter.
''I can assure you we are trying to resolve this as quickly as possible,'' Smorgon said.
Casey said the discussion with Smorgon was intended to avoid getting lawyers involved and was an in-house means of resolving the dispute.
''The response has come from lawyers which was surprising and basically now I will have to consult our lawyers to draft a response instead of responding myself in a personal letter,'' he said.
The dispute, which started soon after the Liberatore-Knights incident, was inflamed last Saturday when Casey launched a stinging attack on the Bulldogs.
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Dogs put legal action on hold
By STEPHEN RIELLY
The Age
Friday, April 20, 2001.
The prospect of a courtroom finale to the overheated dispute between Richmond and the Western Bulldogs receded yesterday when presidents Clinton Casey and David Smorgon agreed to first explore less costly ways of settling the spat.
But the potential for legal action has not been eliminated altogether, with the Bulldogs reserving their right to sue Casey for defamation unless he apologises for comments he made about Tony Liberatore and the club last weekend.
Similarly, Casey said he would not be offering an apology or ``clarification'' to the Bulldogs that did not reflect the intent of his controversial presidential speech of last Saturday.
``We both want it to end but we've both got a position to defend and protect as well,'' Casey said last night. ``It will be a matter of regret if it ends up in court but if that's the case, so be it. If it (what the Bulldogs want) is a clarification, and it is what I meant, then I will absolutely offer that to them. But if it's a clarification and it's not what I meant then absolutely not.''
The two presidents spoke for almost an hour on Wednesday night and Casey forwarded to Smorgon yesterday an explanation of his and Richmond's position. He is now awaiting Smorgon's response.
Their discussion was prompted by the threat issued by the Bulldogs on Wednesday to launch a defamation action against Casey unless he offered an apology that was acceptable to Liberatore and the club. Smorgon, Liberatore and Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace and chief executive Mark Patterson were signatories to the proposed action.
Casey incensed the Bulldogs with an attack on their conduct in the days leading up to and after the five-match suspension Liberatore received for striking Tiger Matthew Knights in the opening minutes of the clubs' round two encounter.
The Tigers remain angry that their captain Wayne Campbell was later criticised for giving unusually frank and damning evidence against Liberatore during his AFL tribunal hearing. Among other things, Casey claimed that the Bulldogs condoned Liberatore's action and that the 1990 Brownlow Medallist had a history of involvement in ``cowardly and ugly incidents.''
Casey said yesterday that he was surprised the matter had escalated to the point of lawyers becoming involved and has threatened to break off the new attempt to resolve the dispute if the correspondence between the clubs continues to be made through legal channels.
``I said to David that when we start dealing through lawyers I will no longer deal with you independently, on a personal basis,'' Casey said.
``Now, if it can't be resolved between us then we'll put the gloves on and let the umpire decide but I'm hopeful that we're able to work out what's important and resolve it.''
Liberatore is unlikely to be the subject of another investigation despite comments made by Fremantle rover Peter Bell in relation to an alleged incident two seasons ago.
Bell revealed in an interview last Friday that Liberatore had made a disparaging remark about his parentage before a match in Melbourne. Bell, who was adopted, was playing for the Kangaroos at the time.
An AFL spokesman said yesterday that the transcript of Bell's interview had been studied but that without a complaint from Bell the matter was almost certain to be closed.
Bell has since said that he did not take any great offence at the remark and that he does not wish to pursue the matter.
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Tigers, Dogs set for court
The Age
By KAREN LYON and LEN JOHNSON
Saturday, April 21, 2001.
A defiant Richmond president Clinton Casey has refused to apologise to the Western Bulldogs in their continuing war of words over the Tony Liberatore affair, virtually consigning the two clubs to an expensive battle in the courts.
Last night, Casey said he was disappointed the affair would end in court after a week of meetings between the clubs failed to end the matter.
Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon, chief executive Mark Patterson, coach Terry Wallace and Tony Liberatore will sue Richmond and Casey for defamation. A statement of claim was being drawn up yesterday and writs will be served on Monday.
Bulldogs president Smorgon had given Casey until 2pm yesterday to apologise for claiming that Liberatore had deliberately king-hit Matthew Knights in the match between the clubs on April 7 and that his actions had been condoned by both Smorgon and coach Wallace. A form of apology acceptable to the Bulldogs was sent to Richmond and Casey yesterday morning, but no reply was received.
Casey made the comments in his luncheon speech before last Saturday's match between Richmond and Brisbane.
Smorgon responded by comparing Casey's remarks to those of a ``shock jock'' radio announcer resorting to sensationalism to boost ratings.
``It's well known that we'd set a deadline,'' Smorgon said, ``and that has passed. It has been very clear, publicly and privately, what is required to put this matter to finality. It hasn't happened and we are pursuing the alternative course.''
Casey said: ``I have been talking to David over the last week. I left it with him yesterday. I sent him a statement, in terms of a compromise and I thought we could work on it. He didn't agree with it and he wanted to change it.''
Instead of a compromised statement, Casey came out with his own ultimatum for the Bulldogs' administration.
``If the Western Bulldogs are prepared to state publicly and unreservedly that it did not and does not condone the actions of its player Tony Liberatore in striking Matthew Knights, then the Richmond Football Club and myself will withdraw unreservedly any suggestion that the Western Bulldogs or its officials have condoned Liberatore's actions,'' Casey said.
He called a meeting of the Richmond board yesterday as it appeared litigation could not be avoided.
``In regards to our players and the support of our players, support of the members and relation to this incident on the field, there is absolutely no grounds for an apology at all,'' Casey said.
``I have given (Smorgon) a resolution today and if he takes the resolution I will unreservedly withdraw it. That is our position and we won't be withdrawing from that position. I would have liked to think we could have got to that position through consultation.''
Casey said he was more than prepared to match the Bulldogs in court.
Smorgon said the Bulldogs were conscious of the AFL view that the two clubs settle the matter without resorting to the courts, but he had made it clear all along that there were ``things we're not going to cop''.
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Casey Smorgon end feud
The Age
Monday, April 23, 2001
Richmond AFL president CLINTON CASEY has withdrawn his claims that his Western Bulldogs counterpart DAVID SMORGON and coach TERRY WALLACE condoned TONY LIBERATORE'S controversial strike on Tigers veteran MATTHEW KNIGHTS.
The week-long threat of legal action from SMORGON ended when he accepted CASEY'S apology in a joint statement released by the clubs tonight.
In the statement, CASEY says his remarks were wrong and he apologises.
LIBERATORE received a five match ban for hitting KNIGHTS in back play in the April 7 Round 2 match at the MCG.
Bulldogs chief executive MARK PATTERSON also apologised to Richmond captain WAYNE CAMPBELL for questioning the credibility of his evidence at the tribunal.
Official joint statement from Casey and Smorgon
TIGERS, BULLDOGS JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The presidents of the Richmond and Western Bulldogs Football Clubs today issued the following statements:
Mr Clinton Casey, President of the Richmond Football Club said: "Considerable discussion has taken place regarding my lunchtime address on Saturday, 14th April 2001, prior to the Richmond-Brisbane Lions game, on the incident involving Matthew Knights and Tony Liberatore.
My address was made in response to earlier comments, which I saw as challenging the integrity and credibility of our players including the Richmond captain, Wayne Campbell.
I recognise that remarks made in my address, which suggested or inferred that the Western Bulldogs Football Club, and in particular its president David Smorgon and its coach Terry Wallace, suggesting they condone or support in any way unsportsmanlike behaviour on the football field, were incorrect. I withdraw and apologise for those remarks.
It was not my intention for the remarks to be taken in this way, rather I was intending to protect the interests of my players and the club.
Clearly, both clubs accept the tribunal's decision, but have differing views regarding the Knights/Liberatore incident and cannot agree on the circumstances surrounding the issue."
Mr David Smorgon, President of the Western Bulldogs Football Club responded by saying: "On behalf of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Terry Wallace and I accept Clinton's statement.
Mark Patterson, CEO of the Western Bulldogs, apologises to Richmond captain Wayne Campbell for remarks which may have reflected adversely on Wayne's credibility as a witness."
Both presidents and their respective clubs agree that this matter is behind them and that there will be no further comments.
David Smorgon Clinton Casey
President President
Western Bulldogs Football Club Richmond Football Club
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On Wednesday Night, April 11, 2001, the AFL Tribunal handed down a 5 week suspension to Liberatore as well as melee fines to 12 players from both clubs
The Tribunal verdicts
The Age
Thursday, April 12, 2001.
Tony Liberatore (W Bulldogs) for striking Matthew Knights (Rich) 5 matches
MELEE CHARGES
Wayne Campbell (Rich) Fined $3000
Steven Sziller (Rich) Fined $3000
Matthew Knights (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Rogers (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Richardson (Rich) Fined $2000
Brad Ottens (Rich) Fined $2000
Ben Holland (Rich) Fined $2000
Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500 One of the worst offenders by the looks of it, effin dog :rollin
Craig Ellis (W Bulldogs) Fined $3000
Luke Darcy (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Kingsley Hunter (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Matthew Robbins (W Bulldogs) Fined $2000
Rohan Smith (W Bulldogs) Cleared
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With the off-field feud ended, all was in readiness for the return match - Round 17, July 27, 2001
Frawley's men have their night
The Age
By MELISSA RYAN
Saturday, July 28, 2001.
RICHMOND 4.4 8.9 11.10 15.12 (102)
BULLDOGS 5.3 7.5 12. 8 15.10 (100)
Goals:
Richmond: B Ottens 5 R Hilton 2 M Richardson 2 B Gale W Campbell L Cameron D Bourke D Gaspar G Tivendale.
Western Bulldogs: N Brown 4 C Grant 3 B Johnson 2 T Curley 2 L Darcy M S Cox M Croft T Liberatore.
Best:
Richmond: B Gale B Ottens W Campbell M Knights D Gaspar L Cameron.
Western Bulldogs: R Smith L Darcy S West T Curley C Ellis N Brown.
Injuries:
Richmond: C King (split webbing).
Western Bulldogs: nil.
Reports: nil.
Umpires: A Coates M McKenzie B Allen.
Official crowd: 43,595 at Colonial Stadium.
Payback was delivered. If the expectation had been for the blood and crush of war, Richmond delivered its brand of vengeance where it counted, emerging from a desperate arm-wrestle to scrape a two-point victory over the Western Bulldogs last night.
In a match marked by numerous comebacks, the Bulldogs faltered after leading by 16points nearly seven minutes into the last term and were unable to snatch back the lead in a desperate finish.
The last quarter was a wild ride as Brad Johnson and skipper Chris Grant extended their team's four-point lead at three-quarter-time with the opening two goals.
But Leon Cameron, Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens worked to recapture the match for the Tigers. Richardson, who had struggled for most of the night, kicked two vital last-quarter goals. His first drew the Tigers within nine points before Cameron steamed through the centre corridor to deliver the next. When Richardson found himself tight on the boundary with a chance to put the Tigers ahead, his kicking did not fail.
After Nathan Brown missed for the Bulldogs, Ottens slammed through his fifth goal of the night, but the Bulldogs redoubled their attacking efforts. Johnson missed an easy shot 25 minutes into the term, but Brown booted his fourth goal with under two minutes to play.
In the last minute Bulldog fans screamed in vain for a free kick for a high tackle on Brown in front of goal, but the Tigers held on for a win vital for its top-four hopes.
The Bulldogs had mounted their own remarkable comeback in the third term. Grant, cut out of the first half by Darren Gaspar, loomed in pivotal moments as the Bulldogs fought back after the Tigers led by 10 points at half-time. It started with Grant charging at Richardson in the opening minutes as the Tiger waited alone in front of goal as the ball came down to him, Grant causing significant pressure to ensure Richardson fumbled and botched the opportunity to draw first blood after half-time.
The Bulldogs' midfield sprang into life as they sliced into their attacking 50, but they managed only one goal from four attempts. Richmond responded with the next two goals before the Bulldogs closed out the quarter in style.
Brown nabbed his third goal, but Greg Tivendale snapped a booming goal 25 minutes in to provide relief. It lasted only moments. Grant burst free of a cluster for the next goal and, with only a second left in the term, Todd Curley gave the Bulldogs the lead as Matthew Robbins shepherded off David Bourke to allow Curley's kick to slip through.
Many eyes had looked for the match-up between Tony Liberatore and Matthew Knights, and the pair renewed acquaintances with some pushing and shoving before the opening bounce.
But Liberatore was set to hound Tigers skipper Wayne Campbell, the man whose frank evidence at the AFL Tribunal was a key element in Liberatore being suspended for five matches. Throughout the night, Knights, Liberatore and Campbell were vociferously booed by the crowd.
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Richmond then marched onwards to September action while the Doggies were left to lick their wounds missing the finals.
THE END.
I'll add some clips of the return match that I have asap.
I've added Rex's 3aw call of the incident in the first post of the thread.
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Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500 One of the worst offenders by the looks of it, effin dog :rollin
LOL
Amazing how many then Doggies involved in all that (and probably at the time hated our guts and vice versa) are now at Richmond - Wallace, Browny, Armstrong and then there's Royal and Gordon Casey as well. 4-5 years is sure along time in footy :thumbsup.
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Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500 One of the worst offenders by the looks of it, effin dog :rollin
LOL
Amazing how many then Doggies involved in all that (and probably at the time hated our guts and vice versa) are now at Richmond - Wallace, Browny, Armstrong and then there's Royal and Gordon Casey as well. 4-5 years is sure along time in footy :thumbsup.
hopefully our boys can play tough and ruthless with a never say die attitude
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Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500 One of the worst offenders by the looks of it, effin dog :rollin
LOL
Amazing how many then Doggies involved in all that (and probably at the time hated our guts and vice versa) are now at Richmond - Wallace, Browny, Armstrong and then there's Royal and Gordon Casey as well. 4-5 years is sure along time in footy :thumbsup.
hopefully our boys can play tough and ruthless with a never say die attitude
and back it up with skill :thumbsup
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I'll add some clips of the return match that I have asap.
Highlights of the return clash:
Opening bounce:
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/start_r17_2001.mpg [4.6 MB]
Ottens marks to kick the Tigers second:
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/otto_r17_2001.mpg [2.4 MB]
Tivs bombs one through the middle from 50 close to the boundary:
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/tivs_r17_2001.mpg [5.2 MB]
The disputed free not paid to Browny for the doggies in the dying moments:
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/no_free_kick_r17_2001.mpg [1.7 MB]
Tiges hold on and Spud goes ape :lol :
http://oneeyed-richmond.com/history/every_dog_has_its_day/final_siren_r17_2001.mpg [2.6 MB]
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i still remember being at that game, when i was about 7 or 8. didn't know what was going on, but i knew it wasn't good when i saw Knights running off with blood all over his face.
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Classic Tiger Quarters: Round 17, 2001
By richmondfc.com.au
Saturday, April 13, 2013
It was billed as a revenge match for Richmond following its early-2001 season belting at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.
It was Round 17, it was at the venue now known as Etihad Stadium, and it was an enthralling contest from start to finish.
In the first of a new series on richmondfc.com.au – “Classic Tiger Quarters” – Matthew Richardson speaks with Richmond’s captain of the day, Wayne Campbell, about the frenetic final term of that epic Round 17, 2001 encounter.
Watch the video of the classic Tiger quarter - Round 17, 2001 here: http://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/2013-04-12/classic-quarters-r17-2001-western-bulldogs
http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2013-04-13/classic-tiger-quarters-round-17-2001