Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton believes Tom Hawkins will be punished for his elbow on James Sicily, rubbishing claims the Hawks midfielder exaggerated the contact.
Sicily was clutching his back on the MCG turf after an unexpected whack, bringing the contact the umpire's attention.
While no free kick was paid, Brereton is adamant Match Review Officer Michael Christian will look unfavourably on the hit.
“You’re allowed to stand in front of your opponent and eyes on the footy and not expected to be elbowed in the kidneys,” Brereton told Fox Sports.
“That’s not going to go unpunished, make no mistake.
“You see Sicily’s head snap back then because of the force that comes into the mid-section and he’s clearly frustrated because he knows he can’t retaliate and he knows if he does retaliate the crowd will get on him and the free kick will come.''
Brian Taylor says there’s nothing in it, but this off-ball incident between Tom Hawkins and James Sicily was a talking point in the third quarter. #AFLHawksCats pic.twitter.com/pdEY7O1bpv
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) April 22, 2019
Essendon great Tim Watson argued Sicily may have been acting to win a free kick, while Brian Taylor said there ''was nothing in it''.
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But Brereton called for the game to make a stance and set an example for younger players.
“We’ve been crying out for this … it has to stop. It never used to be in our game,” he said.
“It’s a different era (in Brereton’s era), but there was a respect between players that you wouldn’t do that from behind. If it did happen, the umpires would literally give you a free shot at them down the track. And if you did it, you knew you were going to get hunted at some stage.
“The worst thing I can see in this entirely is we go an watch junior footy and we’re seeing 12-year-old kids doing this now. If you are the custodian of the game, the AFL, you have to stop this at the top.”
Sicily had previously been punished for off-the-ball contact at a critical time during their loss to the Bulldogs in round two that gifted the opposition six points.
Carlton defender Liam Jones only received a fine for a similar incident on Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt in round one, possibly setting a dangerous precedent for the future.
