Richmond explain Jayden Short's eye-opening exchange with fan
Richmond have moved to explain a video of Jayden Short and a fan that raised eyebrows on social media after the AFL grand final.
Short was filmed receiving a small item from a man in the front row of the crowd at the Gabba during Richmond’s victory lap on Saturday night.
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The footage went viral on social media, with some rather unsavoury suggestions as to what Short received.
However on Monday, the club cleared Short of any wrongdoing and said their gun defender was given a watch.
The fan has since identified himself as Daniel Haas of watchmakers Wilder Haas, who wanted Short to wear the special black and gold timepiece during the grand final celebrations.
“It was just a gesture and I am so humbled that he accepted the watch to begin with,” Haas told News Corp.
“It’s a gold and black watch, my favourite of the watches I sell. He came over and I thought he was nearly going to get the Norm Smith and I said to him, this is from my collection and my son wants to give it to you.
“He didn’t want to take it but when he saw it was from my son, he said, ‘Thank you very much’.
“To be wearing one after the game and be able to pass it on to Jayden, I was lost for words.”
Haas also posted on Facebook: “So grateful Shorty accepted my Wilder Haas watch. YELLOW AND BLACK”.
Jayden Short in Norm Smith Medal gaffe
It wasn’t the only bizarre incident involving Short in the AFL grand final.
On Sunday, AFL legend Leigh Matthews admitted to mistakenly handing Nathan Broad two Norm Smith Medal votes instead of Short.
Dustin Martin was the unanimous winner of best-afield honours, with all five judges awarding him the maximum three votes in the 3-2-1 voting system, to deliver the Richmond superstar an unprecedented third Norm Smith Medal.
Martin won with 15 votes, ahead of Short (six), Shane Edwards (four), Geelong's Mitch Duncan (three) and Broad (two) - with voting chair Matthews the only judge to hand Broad votes.
But on Sunday, Matthews said he meant to give Short - who had 25 disposals and an incredible 771 metres gained - two votes ahead of Broad's eight-disposal effort.
“I didn't (vote for Broad), did I? I thought I had gone Martin, Short and Edwards,” Matthews told the Sunday Footy Show.
“Because if I put down the name Broad instead of the name Short when I was being hustled at the end of the game ... (when) you've got to write down the names quickly - I'm glad Broad didn't (win it) or Short (didn't miss out) by a couple of votes.
“I didn't see the others voting but I'm sure everyone gave Martin best on the ground, that was so obvious. So I guess the twos and ones don't matter that much.
“But if I put Broad down that was a very big mistake on my part - it was definitely Short, two, and Edwards one.”
The AFL confirmed Matthews had written Broad on his voting sheet, not Short, although given Martin's dominance, Matthews' blooper did not affect the winner.
with AAP
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