Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has asked Collingwood to help young gunman Jack Ginivan avoid a free-kick game, a “skill” of drawing free kicks.
Hardwick’s comments came in response to Magpies coach Craig Maker, who said he would seek an explanation for how the 19-year-old was being assigned.
McRae took issue with the media’s suggestion that Ginivan made excessive contact with opponents to get a free kick inside Collingwood’s offensive 50, using Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Geelong’s Joel Selwood as examples of two players who are good at avoiding tackles.
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“Is it within the rules? There are no rules against the minute,” the coach said.
“Especially when you get a ground ball and then take a tackle. Dusty does it with one arm. Joel Selwood made a living from it. I think it’s a smart game.”
However, Martin had a different view of the three-time premiership coach.
“I think it’s the coaches’ responsibility to teach the right techniques for lifting the ball and protecting the head,” said Hardwick.
“For me, I think we set the scene for the little league, for the kids. The head is always important, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes we have to save the players from ourselves.”
Ginivan was again in action in Collingwood’s four-point win over Hawthorne on Sunday and received a $ 1,000 fine after being charged with misconduct in the third quarter.
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