‘Two sets of rules?’ – Saints query free kicks
Roger Vaughan |
The physical Nick Daicos-Marcus Windhager duel will prompt St Kilda to go to the AFL about free kicks for off-the-ball incidents.
Collingwood beat the Saints by 34 points on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium and Windhager’s tag on Daicos lived up to the pre-game hype.
Daicos became more prominent as the game progressed and he finished with 30 possessions, as well as kicking a crucial goal in the last quarter.
But Windhager, like St Kilda, lost no friends with their spirited challenge to the ladder leaders.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon questioned some of the umpiring as Windhager tried to stop Daicos while Collingwood teammates likewise tried to disrupt the tag.
“I’m not sure they were free kicks, but I think we’ll take that in (to the AFL) and ask the question,” Lyon said.
“Are there two sets of rules going around? I’m not sure.”
Windhager is in solid form and while Daicos ultimately won their battle, Lyon was full of praise for his player.
“I said to him, it reminds me of Ryan Crowley and Clint Jones and Cameron Ling – ‘I love it mate’. He’s a ripping kid,” said Lyon, referring to past tagging specialists.
“I liked the theatre of it, there was a lot of noise, a bit of theatrics, both teams supporting their player – it’s great for the game, isn’t it?”
Similarly, Collingwood coach Craig McRae was pleased that teammates did their utmost to ease the pressure on Daicos.
“As a group, as a team, we want to look after him. We don’t want him just sitting there, feeling like he’s fighting his own battles,” McRae said.
“Can you see how much we enjoy it when he goes things well? He means a lot to us.”
The Saints pushed Collingwood hard and trailled by only 10 points early in the last quarter.
But then Daicos’ booming goal, despite Windhager’s close attention, proved a critical moment and Collingwood kicked the last four goals of the game.
McRae was pleased that stars such as Jamie Elliott contributed, despite having quieter nights.
Elliott kicked two goals late in the third term and it proved a crucial cameo.
“That was huge … it’s definitely a moment. They were coming, big time,” McRae said.
Likewise, St Kilda showed plenty after the Western Bulldogs belted them the week before.
“We took a step forward, which we wanted to and needed to, with our mindset and approach – to attacking the game, and energy and fight,” Lyon said.
“I like the step we took.”
St Kilda player Mattaes Phillipou was a last-minute withdrawal when his lower leg injury flared again, while Collingwood’s Beau McCreery likewise will undergo scans for a hamstring strain.
AAP
