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hawthorn the small forwards were again called for dropping to their knees and raising their arms in an attempt to milk free kicks.
There were a few moments the Hawks’ recent win over Richmond when their forwards successfully managed to win a free-kick for a high tackle, although it was clear they had lowered their bodies to exaggerate the contact.
WATCH ABOVE: Hawthorn attack under fire to milk free kicks.
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Hawthorn rookie Jack Guinivan had a reputation when he was at Collingwood for being “sloppy” when tackled and has previously spoken about his controversial technique and needs to address it.
This year, Hawthorn added another smart small forward to their list with high draft pick Nick “The Wizard” Watson.
There’s no doubt Watson, 170cm, is exciting to watch, but it’s his action in the fights that takes the spotlight, along with Ginivan.
Talking Footy presenter James Brayshaw believes something needs to be done to address the situation.
“There were a lot of those high free-kick examples made with those Hawthorn small forwards,” Brayshaw said on Channel 7.
“I think I’ve made my point pretty clear … but it’s such an easy decision for me.
“If you decide to lower your body and drive with your head, examples we can see here (in the vision), you sag, your previous (opportunity) is gone … Keeping the ball.”
AFL great Tim Watson said he believed the AFL had already dealt with the maligned technique.
“I thought we’d reached that point, and now it’s like we’ve almost turned it around,” Watson said.
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And Brayshaw noted former AFL football boss and now Essendon coach Brad Scott was “desperate to iron out” the action from the game.
“It went backwards for me,” Brayshaw said.
“(But) if you’re paying a free kick for keeping the ball, you’re going to fix it in a round.”
Brayshaw also noted that Guinivan and Watson’s teammates were aware of the questionable tactic.
He showed visions of Conor Nash on the sideline, raising his shoulder shortly after his team were awarded a free-kick for a high control.
Nash looked confused by the action.
Geelong legend Joel Sellwood said he believed the referees had got it right in the early rounds of the season.
“It’s obviously a theme that has taken up a lot of my career as well,” Selwood said.
“I think and the easy way to call it is if you see a ‘drop’ in the contest, that’s a really good giveaway that you’re not really trying to face the player in a certain way…
“I’m sure the AFL is watching and the clubs are watching.”
Watson wondered whether Brayshaw’s decision – you simply pay a free-kick for holding the ball as soon as a player slips in a tackle – would make it easier for referees to judge.
But former Richmond captain Trent Cotchin said there would still be a gray area depending on how “saggy” the player was.
But Cochin agreed that the problem needed to be addressed.
“But again, if we go back to trying to protect the players and their heads, well, we can’t accept that type of behavior in the game.”
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