AFL, Suns on ‘crash course’ over ump contact as star bristles in blunt interview

Matt Rowell and the Suns are on a “crash course with the AFL” over umpire contact after the star midfielder again had multiple close shaves on Saturday afternoon.

During the week, the league announced it would crack down on careless player-umpire contact, with suspensions to potentially be dished out to repeat offenders.

Rowell has been fined four times across the past two years, with another misstep to possibly cost him a ban.

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And after coach Damien Hardwick midweek said “look out” if Rowell was to be banned for another discretion, the prolific contested ball-winner said on Saturday he hadn’t taken any steps to alter his approach to the contest.

In a post-game interview with Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, Rowell was abrupt when questioned about the umpire contact situation.

“I haven’t changed anything,” he told Jones after Gold Coast beat Essendon by 41 points.

Asked if he had spoken to Hardwick on any tinkers to his style of play that would prevent contact, Rowell was again stern in his response.

“I’m just going to keep doing me,” he said.

Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark remarked that the situation was “red rag to a bull”, with Gold Coast clearly unhappy with the AFL’s sudden shift.

“Gold Coast is on a crash course with the AFL over this matter. There were so many close shaves ... as he (Rowell) says, he’s not going to change anything,” Clark told Fox Footy’s Super Saturday Live.

“The AFL wants the players to change their behaviour on this front. It’s red rag to a bull.

“They (the AFL) said they don’t really want to suspend players for this, but if they’re going to do it a bit brazenly and not modify their behaviour, maybe they have to.”

Rowell: 'I haven't changed anything!' | 01:24

Two-time premiership Kangaroo David King said it was the second time this year Hardwick had taken aim at league headquarters, predicting a suspension for Rowell if there was to be another instance of umpire contact in the coming weeks.

“I reckon it’s the second middle finger for the year (from) Damien Hardwick ... and this one is straight at Andrew Dillon, and I don’t think he’ll take it well,” King said.

“I think that if there is contact to be made in the next few weeks, he will get a suspension, because they’ve warned, and they’ve ignored.

“It’s a pretty serious thing to be doing in the back half of the year.”

Western Bulldogs icon Brad Johnson added: “He (Rowell) is walking the fine line. We all know what the outcome is now, so it’s on Rowell and the Gold Coast to either change behaviour, or it could hurt them at the end of the year.”

Rowell 'ignores' umpire warning? | 00:53

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson during the match broadcast suggested Rowell and Hardwick were on the same page with their displeasure about the AFL’s mid-season crackdown.

“I think sometimes you’re an extension of the coach in terms of the messaging, and when (he said) ‘I’m just going to do what I do’, and that means ‘I’m going to dance with the devil’ in these particular plays,” he said.

“Obviously, they’re not happy as a club about it, and they’ve told him to go out and play his natural game, almost to the point where ‘I’m going to put myself in this spot, and what will be will be’.

“I think it’s a stance, often when you hear a player talk like that, it’s coming from the coach, and a bit of a line in the sand ... ‘we’re not going to cop this anymore’ type of attitude, and I think Dimma has instilled that in some of his players.

“This particular issue seems to have sparked something in Dimma’s profile.”

Four-time flag-winner Jordan Lewis said: “I think, if I’m the AFL watching that, I am not too pleased, to be honest. But that’s the risk they want to run.”

OUCH! Caddy's heavy collision with ump | 00:29

At half-time of Bombers-Suns, Lewis expressed concern about Rowell’s approach amid multiple examples from the first half at Docklands where the hard-headed midfielder had multiple close shaves with men in green.

“He either didn’t see the memo that came out, (or) he hasn’t been spoken to by club officials,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.

“Seriously, you cannot set up like that. You cannot run the risk of then getting another fine and a potential suspension.

“I just cannot believe after the week that he’s had to then set up behind the umpire and run the risk.”

Lewis believed it meant the AFL would be more likely to suspend Rowell as a result of unchanged behaviour.

“No doubt, whatsoever. The umpires have sent out a memo, they’ve fined Matt Rowell last week $5,000,” he said.

“If he doesn’t get the message from those two things, maybe the next thing is a suspension.”

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