Essendon v Hawthorn: Ben Stratton pinching highlighted with Orazio Fantasia run-in

Tom Naghten

•
Essendon v Hawthorn: Ben Stratton pinching highlighted with Orazio Fantasia run-in image

Ben Stratton's niggly tactics were highlighted two weeks ago when he kept Brisbane livewire Charlie Cameron quiet.

The Hawthorn captain has long been known as a defender who doesn't give his opponent an inch, but now it's been spotlighted that he doesn't mind giving them a pinch.

Barely two seconds into the Hawks' Friday night clash with Essendon at Marvel Stadium, Stratton was filmed pinching and poking Bombers small forward Orazio Fantasia.


 

The Essendon star took exception to it and attempted to alert the goal umpire, though they weren't particularly interested and Stratton responded by giving him a good size pinch on the back of his arm.

Fantasia spoke to the umpire about the issue at quarter time, while Stratton and Ray Chamberlain, who was overseeing his 300th game, were seen having a chat about it after the first change.

MORE: Sydney Stack set to be 'biggest steal' in draft history

The Fox Footy panel discussed the matter at half time, saying it could have been stopped by punishing Stratton a fortnight ago when he was bugging Cameron.

"See the umpire there laughing? All he had to do was give a free kick to Charlie Cameron there and we wouldn't be having this conversation," McGuire said.

On the Fantasia incident, McGuire suggested that umpires near the goals be given more power.

"There's a goal umpire standing one foot away from him there and that's why I've been pushing to have umpires behind the goals, rather than blokes who just wave flags."

Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley was charged with misconduct and fined $1,200 after North Melbourne's Brent Harvey claimed he was pinched "about 300 times" during a match in 2013.

Back at Docklands on Friday, the Bombers took a three-point lead into the main break, though they would have been disappointed it wasn't more.

This after-the-siren, goal-line effort from Michael Hurley could best be described as, not bad, but completely woeful.

The star defender got his wires crossed and let a Paul Puopolo set shot bounce through for a major to keep the Hawks in touching distance.


 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.