Richmond coach Damien Hardwick involved in heated verbal exchange while attending VFL match
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been involved in a fiery exchange while attending the club's VFL match against Williamstown at the weekend.
The incident that sparked Hardwick's exchange occurred just over a minute into the match at Richmond's Punt Road Oval on Saturday, when Tigers youngster Rhyan Mansell was hit from behind.
Mansell, who has played 15 games at the AFL level under Hardwick, and Williamstown midfielder Darby Henderson were both chasing a ball towards the boundary line before a bump from the Tiger sent Henderson sliding into the advertising hoarding around the boundary.
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After dusting himself off, Henderson charged at Mansell, who was grappling with a second Williamstown player who had come in to remonstrate, knocking the Tiger to the turf.
Damien Hardwick was left incensed at an incident in the first quarter of Richmond's VFL clash on Saturday Getty
Henderson's flying elbow into Mansell's back resulted in a brief scuffle before the Tiger got up to take his free kick.
Richmond confirmed in a statement that Hardwick had been involved in a verbal exchange, but did not suggest whether the three-time premiership-winning coach would face any sanction for his actions.
"The club acknowledges there was an exchange of words following an incident in the first quarter which led to a Williamstown player being reported for rough conduct," the statement said.
"As far as the club is concerned that is the end of the matter."
Mansell can be seen grabbing for his lower back after being elbowed by Henderson AFL
It is alleged Hardwick called the Williamstown players involved in the scuffle "weak f---ing pricks", according to a Herald Sun report.
According to The Age, Williamstown is "aware of a dispute" but wasn't able to prove exactly what had been said.
The AFL is also understood to be aware of the incident and is set to "monitor the situation", according to The Age.
The incident comes with Richmond and Hardwick facing a major uphill task to return to the finals after missing out last season, following a pulsating draw against Fremantle last Friday.
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