Did Hawthorn disrespect their opponents by throwing Tom Barrass forward in the final quarter of big their win over his former team West Coast?
Matthew Lloydand Jimmy Bartel have differing views.
With the game well and truly over, Barrass was thrown forward in the fourth term, with his teammates actively looking to get him the ball and potentially a second career goal.
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The star defender made the big move from the Eagles to the Hawks in the trade period, despite having a lengthy contract to run at his former club.
Things have been testy between the two clubs over the move, and coach Sam Mitchell’s subsequent trips to Perth amid public conversations with Harley Reid and Oscar Allen have poured fuel on the fire.
Matthew Lloyd wonders if the Hawks took the mickey out of the Eagles Getty
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was asked in his post-game press conference whether he thought the decision to throw Barrass forward was disrespectful, which led to a long pause and a wry smile before he eventually answered.
“I probably shouldn’t say it, because I don’t know what was going on in their team to be honest, but that’s their prerogative I suppose,” McQualter said post match.
“I haven’t seen Tom Barrass play forward too often in his career.”
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Essendon great Lloyd respected McQualter’s honesty and feels there might be some truth to his comments.
Liam Ryan of the Eagles and Tom Barrass of the Hawks compete for the ball. Getty
“I love the honesty that he potentially found it disrespectful that a man who has kicked one career goal, in Tom Barrass, was thrown forward,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s got bigger issues (McQualter), but usually it’s James Sicily who goes forward, so maybe they were just taking the mickey out of them, but that’s where (the Eages are) at.”
Geelong champion Bartel believes the Eagles should simply move on and focus on their own internal issues, given they are once again languishing in the bottom four.
“Who cares (whether it’s disrespectful)? It’s none of your business. If they want to play junior football and play backs as forwards for a quarter, you take that and go after them,” Bartel said.
“I think they’ve got bigger issues than where Tom Barrass and the opposition’s key backs are playing.”
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter Getty
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson hopes Mitchell and the Hawks had no “malice” behind their decision.
“I think that was a great way to answer the question without having to answer it,” Simpson told SEN of McQualter’s comments.
“For McQualter to say that, he wasn’t happy about it. Sometimes you think, who cares, but obviously they weren’t happy.
“I wouldn’t overthink it. What would be interesting is if the game was on the line in a final, I don’t think we would’ve seen Barrass forward.
“It’s to scratch an itch. They were 10 goals up. I just hope it wasn’t deeper than ‘let’s try this’. I hope there wasn’t any malice behind it.”
Barrass’ lone career goal in his 157-game career came in round one of 2022 against Gold Coast.
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