Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick has lashed out at spectators after clashing with fans during his team's 19.14 (128) to 7.7 (49) loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Hardwick's post-match outburst
Hardwick admitted he “has to be better” after confronting fans as he walked through the crowd at quarter breaks, a unique feature of Adelaide Oval where coaches must navigate through spectators to access the ground.
“It's not ideal to be honest, walking through here,” Hardwick said after the match. “And I understand people are going to say stuff and I have got to be better.”
The coach then took aim at the behaviour of some fans, calling them “peanuts”.
“At the end of the day, those sort of people are the guys that live in their mum's basements and type on bloody social media forums and all that sort of stuff,” he said. “But we're not playing well. I've got to be better, like I said. But we've got to do something about it. It's a dangerous position to put us in, first and foremost. Security is OK but we don't need people being peanuts about it. Get out of the basement, mate.”
Adelaide Oval's unique coach access
Adelaide Oval is believed to be the only AFL venue where coaches must walk through the crowd to reach the ground at quarter breaks. Geelong coach Chris Scott expressed similar discontent weeks ago, while Crows coach Matthew Nicks urged fans to behave.
“It's disappointing,” Nicks said. “I don't think any coach should have to put up with that. I'd say to our members and our fans: we're not here for that. We're here to enjoy watching a great game of footy ... so just enjoy it.”
Suns' season effectively over
Hardwick's mood was further soured by the Suns' seventh consecutive loss, which leaves them in 14th place with a daunting run home against the Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Melbourne, GWS, Brisbane and St Kilda.
“This year is effectively gone,” Hardwick said, referring to the Suns' finals prospects. “What we've got to do is forge our way forward about what we want ourselves to look like for next year. So the challenge is firmly set there for the playing group.”
Injury blow for promising youngster
Gold Coast also lost promising 20-year-old Will Graham to a shoulder dislocation during the match. “He's probably done for the year, I would say,” Hardwick confirmed.
