Hawthorn captain James Sicily has claimed he is umpired differently after he was penalised for off-the-ball tussle during the Hawks’ massive win over Richmond on Sunday.
The Hawks returned to third on the AFL ladder with a major percentage boost thanks to a brutal 70-point demolition of the hapless Tigers.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sicily speaks on Mansell clash and umpiring frustrations
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Late in the third quarter, Sicily’s frustrations boiled over when knocked over Rhyan Mansell off the ball. Contact appeared minimal and Mansell made the most of it, but there is no doubt it was unnecessary from Sicily’s point of view.
The umpire quickly awarded a free kick, which left Sicily fuming, but Mansell failed to make the most of his chance with his shot at goal drifting horribly wide.
But replays showed Mansell actually tackled Sicily to the ground, which the umpire didn’t see, before Sicily was penalised for the retaliation.
Speaking after the match, Sicily accepted he had made his “bed” due to his long history of on-field indiscretions.
“You know how it is. Rules for some, rules for others, but that’s the bed I’ve made, so I’m going to have to lie in it,” he told Fox Footy after the game.
“But the ball doesn’t lie. He missed the goal, so it wasn’t a free.”
The Hawks went into the clash sitting sixth after other results this weekend, but their 18.14 (122) to 6.16 (52) thrashing of the Tigers made a major statement and lifted them back into the top four.
Sunday’s final margin flattered Richmond after they kicked several late consolation goals once Hawthorn eased off in the final term.
They had led by as much as 87 points during the third quarter.Uncontracted Hawk Mitch Lewis, who has been linked to Collingwood, dominated up forward with five goals, all in the first half.
Goalsneak Nick Watson matched him by also kicking five goals in a stunning first-half performance.
The only injury concern for the Hawks was Jack Ginnivan, who was pulled at half-time with the club citing “back soreness.”
For Richmond, it was a sour way to commemorate triple premiership player Dion Prestia’s 250th game.
The only positive was veteran Tom Lynch finally kicking his 500th goal late in the final term after several weeks stuck on 499.
Tiger Taj Hotton failed to finish the game after suffering an ankle injury, while fellow youngster Steely Green finished the match under a HIA.
Watson, who was back from a two-week injury lay-off, picked up where he left off by kicking the first goal mid-way through the first term after a pedestrian start by both teams.
He was able to slot a second goal in the opening quarter but was upstaged by a rampaging Lewis, who kicked three in the first 30 minutes.
Lewis would have had four goals by quarter-time had his set shot after the siren not narrowly missed.
But Lewis didn’t have to wait too long for his fourth – which came early in the second term – on his way to five majors.
The hapless Tigers went goalless in the first term, and were cruelly denied what would have been a brilliant Seth Campbell goal late in the term by an ARC overrule.
Richmond supporters had to wait until the ninth minute of the second quarter to cheer their side’s first major, which came courtesy of Patrick Retschko.
The Tigers had two in a minute after Mykelti Lefau kicked truly, but any joy was short-lived as Hawthorn piled on the next six.
Hawthorn led by a whopping 63 points at the main break, their largest halftime lead in five seasons under coach Sam Mitchell.
The Hawks threatened to blow the margin beyond 100 points in the third term before the Tigers were able to make the scoreline more respectable by the final siren.
— with AAP
