Player Watch #17: Riley 'Stiffy' Hardeman

[tazaa]

Very very good today

 

[backtothedraft]

He's the modern day two way defender. One of few on our list. Great to see a couple of nice intercept marks yesterday. Would love it if he was just a bit taller. Can lock him into our back 6 for the foreseeable future.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Anyone got vision of the concussion incident?

 

[TheNorthFan]

Bad news for Riley but at least he played a good chunk of games this season. Has shown promising signs. Hopefully a platform to build in 2026. Silver lining amongst the darks clouds down in defence in 2025.

 

[William Caresser]

Bad news for Riley but at least he played a good chunk of games this season. Has shown promising signs. Hopefully a platform to build in 2026. Silver lining amongst the darks clouds down in defence in 2025.

Definitely, Riley's season has been good to watch. Unfortunately the dark clouds aren't limited to defence - problems everywhere.

 

[ferball]

Anyone got vision of the concussion incident?

Callaghan elbowed him in the head during a contest.

 

[North1411]

Callaghan elbowed him in the head during a contest.

He won't even get cited. You are allowed to knock out North players in the contest. If a North player does it, it is a different story

 

[giantroo]

 

[leighlee13]

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Any footage of this incident please giantroo?

 

[giantroo]

Any footage of this incident please giantroo?

View attachment Messenger_creation_BC1C5F43-CC8D-4E5A-A47A-C8FC5F9695BF.mp4

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

View attachment 2391699

let me guess, we didn’t get a free kick?

 

[leighlee13]

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Thank you giantroo

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Hardemann might get off with a warning for hurting Callaghan’s elbow.

I am pretty sure there is not one player who has done time or copped a fine for belting a Kangas player this year.

 

[RHLK]

Seems if you have the ball/momentum you can clock a bloke in the face, concussing him, without any repercussions, despite the head being 'AFL' sacrosanct.

Only watch North each week so genuinely puzzled.

 

[shintemaster]

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Lols at not even a free kick. IMO that deserves a week as did the LDU hit earlier in the year.

 

[Hojuman]

let me guess, we didn’t get a free kick?

Correct.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Another in the ‘Concuss a Kanga’ file.

 

[Roosurgence]

Lols at not even a free kick. IMO that deserves a week as did the LDU hit earlier in the year.

While they are totally different incidents, how is this any different to X getting a tackle wrong?

Why does Callaghan have his forearm raised in that contest?

All football fans ask for is consistency.

I would prefer accidents are treated as such, but when we have players getting rubbed out for 3 weeks for these type of incidents it’s hard to take the comp seriously.

At least X had mitigating circumstances of Sparrow dropping his height after Salem pushing Jy into him.

With the Callaghan one he can clearly see Hardeman coming into the contest, no drop in height and he chooses to raise the forearm and fend off to the head. No attempt to push to the body or brace, he actually thrust the forearm into his face.

For me if you are suspending something like X’s incident, then there is no way you can’t suspend this.

 

[shintemaster]

While they are totally different incidents, how is this any different to X getting a tackle wrong?

Why does Callaghan have his forearm raised in that contest?

All football fans ask for is consistency.

I would prefer accidents are treated as such, but when we have players getting rubbed out for 3 weeks for these type of incidents it’s hard to take the comp seriously.

At least X had mitigating circumstances of Sparrow dropping his height after Salem pushing Jy into him.

With the Callaghan one he can clearly see Hardeman coming into the contest, no drop in height and he chooses to raise the forearm and fend off to the head. No attempt to push to the body or brace, he actually thrust the forearm into his face.

For me if you are suspending something like X’s incident, then there is no way you can’t suspend this.

Agree completely. It is also completely easy to take out of the game because there is no need for it, yet here we are, having the AFL's MRP condoning this behaviour so it will continue. Every player now knows that basically if you get the ball or have the ball first you can do whatever dirty shit you like. I look at Cunnington & Dusty that between them had hundreds of don't argues and I don't recall either of them "accidentally" concussing a player.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

I think the Plaintiff was a little Stiff on this one. On the end of some Giants Biff and not even a Whiff from the MRO Sheriff. We all wish it was Griff instead

 

[Roosurgence]

I find it amazing that the AFL found off the ball vision to suspend Paul Curtis, but yet couldn’t find any vision in play for the ARC to make a call on a touched ball.

Talk about amateur hour. We review everything my arse. They couldn’t even be ****ed trying to find the vision. It’s only North so I’m happy with a goal to GWS. The ARC reviewer was heard saying I can now go back to picking my nose and eating it.

 

[King Corey]

Quite happy for us to ve snitches.

Last check an accidental concussion equals time off.

They must factor in jumper colour.

 

[Ashley B]

Another North player concussed and no report, nothing .
We do something they have hidden cameras for the slightest of indiscretions and carry on like we have smashed the 10 commandments.
AFL, like many corporates, as disingenuous as they come.

 

[Merlin007]

I know Clarkson can't say much publicly, but while I'm happy with Sonja, I reckon it's time someone asks why North players get concussed in football accidents, but Archer and Curtis get suspended for football accidents.

 

[Ashley B]

I know Clarkson can't say much publicly, but while I'm happy with Sonja, I reckon it's time someone asks why North players get concussed in football accidents, but Archer and Curtis get suspended for football accidents.

I think everyone knows . The AFL are a law unto themselves.