Nick Riewoldt slams spirit of the game intervention as a 'complete joke'

Dylan Carmody

Nick Riewoldt slams spirit of the game intervention as a 'complete joke' image

St. Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has slammed the 'spirit of the game' rule, which was enforced during Saturday night's semi final between GWS and Brisbane.

Lions forward Charlie Cameron had injured his arm early in the first quarter, but returned to the field heavily strapped. He was then targeted by Giants defender Adam Kennedy.

However, this was quickly stopped by the umpire, who warned Kennedy what he was doing was against the 'spirit of the game.' 

Riewoldt, who was famously targeted by Brisbane when he broke his collarbone, hated seeing the umpire intervene, saying it was a "complete joke."

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“I don’t subscribe to that. You’re on the ground. I absolutely agree with if a player is injured and they’re trying to get off, then you can’t go after them. We all agree on that,” he told SEN on Monday.

“(If you come back on the ground) you’re fair game.

“What if you come into a game with an injury, like a really sore hand or a cork. Does that mean you need to put a special coloured tape around it and go up to the umpire and say I’ve got a bit of a cork so can you just make sure no one goes after it please?

“I hated seeing this on the weekend. I think this is a complete joke. That the umpire would warn a player that you’re not allowed to do that to another player.”

 

Dylan Carmody

Dylan Carmody Photo