AFL ban for Morris hurts Tigers

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is frustrated with the AFL’s match review panel, calling it a lottery following the one-game ban handed out to Steven Morris.

Richmond’s backline will be weakened by the absence of Morris, who has accepted a suspension for two rough-conduct offences from last week’s match against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

The suspension could be particularly damaging for the Tigers who must find a way to counter Brisbane’s mosquito fleet in Saturday’s round-16 clash at the MCG.

“The tribunal is there for a reason and I don’t think that’s one of them,” Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.

“Steve is a hard player. He’s a tough player.

“But I don’t think we like to see a player suspended for those incidents.

“Whereas I could point out five or six of those (incidents) every week. But for some unknown reason Steve gets done for two.

“I feel the inconsistency is the thing that’s really hurting us at the moment in that system.

“It’s a head-on-head clash. Accidents happen in footy. It’s a combative sport.

“We pick that one, we choose that one, but not all of them, is really inconsistent.”

Hardwick gave a wry grin when asked if he felt the panel was a lottery.

“A bit of a lottery? At the moment the inconsistency is really frustrating me,” he said.

Hardwick said the panel’s points system had merit, but it needed some refining.

“I don’t think Steve should be missing games for those incidents on the weekend,” he said.

“We’ll probably address it (with the AFL) at the end of the year.

“Rant over.”

Richmond and Brisbane both scored their fourth wins last weekend and Hardwick says the new-look Lions have several scoring threats despite last month’s retirement of big forward Jonathan Brown.

“Their win last week against North Melbourne was outstanding,” Hardwick said.

“They’ve got a small brigade up forward that are really dangerous in Josh Green, Dayne Zorko and Lewis Taylor.”

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