AFL fines Richmond for umpire abuse

Updated June 15, 2012 17:39:26

The AFL has fined Richmond $5000 for an incident where a Tigers trainer approached and made offensive comments to a field umpire at the end of last week's game with Fremantle at the MCG.

The league's general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said the AFL had written to the club earlier this week, after the match-day umpires compiled a report detailing the trainer's post-match comments.

Richmond responded to the league on Thursday, and the AFL had chosen to sanction the club, also citing a recent incident in which Tigers coach Damien Hardwick had approached umpires during a game.

"All match-day staff are required to adhere to a clear set of guidelines in relation to their conduct towards umpires," Anderson said in the statement.

"It is important that the AFL continues to take a zero tolerance approach in dealing with umpire abuse as a negative match day environment is still the primary factor impacting on the recruitment and retention of umpires in community football across Australia."

The statement did not say which umpire was approached by the Richmond trainer, however according to the AFL's match report the three umpires on duty for the game were Chris Donlon, Justin Schmitt and Jacob Mollison.

The game, which was played last Saturday afternoon, was won by the Dockers by 12.6 (78) to 9.12 (66).

The free-kick count for the game was 24 to Fremantle, 17 to Richmond.

Meanwhile two Carlton players have apologised to the AFL after posting messages on Twitter critical of the umpiring in Thursday night's match between the Blues and West Coast in Perth.

Defender Jeremy Laidler posted "Are you not meant to try and b 1st in at the footy anymore. If u do u will b pinned for holding the ball. SHOCKING!!!"

Murphy's message said: "Ruined a good game these blokes."

Both players were injured and did not play in the match, which Carlton lost by 10 points.

In a statement, the club said it had spoken to Laidler and Murphy and that both agreed the comments were unfortunate.

"The players admitted that the frustration of not playing and not being able to influence the game meant that they failed to fully consider how their tweets may be understood," the statement said.

Both players apologised to the AFL through the club.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 15, 2012 17:13:40

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Bombers confident for Richmond clash

Published:Friday, July 8, 2011 7:21 AESTExpires:Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:21 AEST

Essendon coach James Hird says he expects the opposing Tigers to be pumped up for the round 16 AFL match at the MCG.

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Tags: australian-football-league, melbourne-3000

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Morton stands down from Richmond

Posted June 2, 2011 08:37:00

Richmond forward Mitch Morton has stood down from the AFL club to deal with a personal issue.

The Tigers released a brief statement on Wednesday night saying: "Richmond will continue to support Mitch during this time and expect he will return to the club in the near future."

No further explanation was given.

Morton, the club's leading goalkicker in 2009, played the first three games in 2011 but has not started since.

He is not the first player to go on a sabbatical from the club in recent times with Troy Taylor also on indefinite leave from the Tigers.

- AAP

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Richmond takes heart from loss

Posted April 16, 2011 11:08:00

Two Richmond fans walk into a bar - usually this is either an opening line to a Tigers joke, or midway through the third quarter.

But at that point of their AFL match against Collingwood on Friday night, the Tigers were neither a joke nor driving fans to the MCG beer sellers with the game already lost.

Instead there was a tantalising glimpse of the Tigers' future, and also of how to beat the premiers as Richmond dominated the Magpies throughout the third quarter.

Midfielder Brett Deledio caught fire, and youngsters Reece Conca, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin all burned brightly.

Then came a large black-and-white fire blanket.

Having had their lead cut from 50 points at half-time to 26 points by three-quarter-time, Collingwood regrouped, shifted gears, and won by 71 points.

Now unbeaten in their opening four matches this season, they finished the match every bit the juggernauts they started it as.

The Magpies had 14 individual goalkickers, and midfielder Dane Swan dominated with four goals and 33 disposals.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick wondered aloud how the margin had blown out so heavily when the game seemed set for a grandstand finish.

"We showed when we play good footy, when we win the ball and get it going our way, we're quite capable of matching it with the top sides," Hardwick said of the 24.17 (161) to 13.12 (90) defeat.

"(Collingwood) are probably five years ahead of us - they started their (rebuilding) process in 2005.

"The difference between a good side and a poor side is that their poor quarters don't result in nine goals, which is what happened in the last."

Every rival coach will examine a DVD of how the Tigers turned around their game at the stoppages, limited the impact of Collingwood's best players and looked the better side in the third term.

So too, you expect, will Mick Malthouse. The Collingwood coach admitted to being impressed with the Tigers, who are showing all the signs of evolution, if not yet revolution.

"Their maturity is progressing at a rate that I am sure Richmond will be happy with.

"They have got a very young side that will get better, and when they get their momentum, and when that shifts in particular, they are a very damaging side."

- AAP

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