'Get rid of it': Eddie McGuire erupts over 'shocking look' for AFL
Eddie McGuire has officially seen enough.
The Collingwood chairman was joined by a number of footy greats on Wednesday night in calling for the AFL to take stronger action against taunting.
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McGuire erupted in commentary after Aaron vandenBerg shoved Fischer McAsey in the back while on the ground in the Melbourne Demons’ win over Adelaide Crows.
“I can tell you that Steve Hocking has got an absolute war on this type of play to get rid of the smart alec cheap shots after an incident,” McGuire said on Fox Footy.
“Whether it’s a missed goal or missed tackle or whatever. It has cost Melbourne a goal or at least a shot on goal right.
“I can promise you, this is what the AFL are wanting to stamp out. They think it is absolutely no good whatsoever, they think this is a shocking look.”
Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton agreed with McGuire, saying cheap shots had become too commonplace in the game.
“This has crept into the game. Players didn’t do it (in yesteryears),” he said.
“There’s got to be respect for your opposition that you don’t have to denigrate them to this level. Pay the free kick and let’s stop this rot.”
Fellow AFL great David King said it’s up to the coaches to stamp out the behaviour.
“There’s only one component of our game that’s going to stamp that out, it’s the coaches,” he said.
“If the coach says ‘Hey, listen, you just cost us a goal’, I guarantee you through selection and those sorts of things they’ll correct it pretty quick.”
Melbourne trounce hapless Adelaide
Melbourne forward Sam Weideman slotted three goals in a 51-point hammering of winless Adelaide.
The Demons responded to a week in the AFL furnace with a 13.10 (88) to 5.7 (37) victory at Adelaide Oval - they're now just one win shy of seventh spot.
After being labelled insipid by club chairman Glen Bartlett after last Thursday night's loss to Port Adelaide, the Demons produced a powerhouse seven-goal last term against the hapless Crows.
“It's good to play some solid footy,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
“Adelaide brought a lot of heat early and it was one of those games that was going to be in the balance for a long period.
“And to our guys' credit, they fought it out and as the game went on it started to open up a bit for us.”
Adelaide's club-record losing streak extends to 13 games, spread over more than a calendar year.
“We put out three high-quality quarters of contested ball against a very good contested ball team and we ran out of gas,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
“We were off a four-day break, that is challenging for all teams.”
with AAP
