- Damien Hardwick wears his heart on his sleeve
- Gold Coast Suns coach disagreed with on-field call
Damien Hardwick has admitted he could be in trouble with the AFL after he was exposed on camera giving a ‘middle-finger salute’ to an on-field umpire.
The Gold Coast Suns coach was in disbelief after a free kick wasn’t paid against GWS Giants star Jake Stringer in Sunday’s match – and ‘Dimma’ made his feelings on the call abundantly clear.
Hardwick let his emotions get the better of him, and could now face a fine from the league.
On Monday night, the vision from the Sydney Showground on June 22 was played on Fox Footy, and although Hardwick saw the funny side, he may change his tune if he ends up a little lighter in the hip pocket.
‘Oh you blokes, you have killed me,’ Hardwick told AFL 360’s Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon.
‘The finger salute might get me in a bit of trouble.’
Damien Hardwick (pictured) has admitted he could be in trouble with the AFL after he was exposed on camera giving a ‘finger salute’ to an umpire
The Gold Coast Suns coach was in disbelief after a late deliberate wasn’t paid against GWS star Jake Stringer – and ‘Dimma’ made his feelings on the call abundantly clear
Hardwick remains confident his team can create club history this season.
Lyon then asked the question on many footy fans’ lips – is another Suns late-season collapse on the cards?
It was valid given Gold Coast have never played finals footy since entering the AFL competition in 2011.
‘It’s the new Suns for us, I know that (fade out) has been the narrative of the past,’ he said. ‘Our leaders are really positive with what we can achieve this year.’
The Suns currently sit in ninth spot after 15 rounds.
In April this year, footage emerged of Geelong recruit Bailey Smith in a heated exchange with an Adelaide Crows supporter while walking down the tunnel.
In the vision, Smith could be seen reacting to the fan by flashing both middle fingers.
Smith later revealed he made the fiery gesture to stick up for his captain Patrick Dangerfield.
‘Probably not my best moment. We were just walking off when someone was getting into Danger a bit more than he should have,’ he told Channel 7.
‘We were in enemy territory and I sort of love that stuff, the back and forth between the fans, but if I had my time again, I probably shouldn’t have done the double bird.
‘But it’s all part of it, there is only so much you can cop. ‘I’ll expect a fine, but don’t talk s**t to the skipper I guess.’
The AFL later fined Smith $1500 for making an obscene gesture, which was reduced to $1000 with an early guilty plea.
