Thomas, Frawley war of words
6:54:19 PM Mon 12 April, 2004
Paul Gough
A war of words has erupted between St Kilda coach Grant Thomas and Richmond coach Danny Frawley over the tactics of Saints’ tagger Steven Baker during the Easter Monday clash at the Telstra Dome.
Baker was reported for striking Richmond’s Kane Johnson during an often spiteful clash, with video replays of the incident showing clear contact by the Saint tagger to the Tiger star’s head well behind play.
Johnson had blood pouring from his eye as a result of the incident and was forced to leave the field for treatment before later returning.
However Thomas said it was Baker who had been the victim of some rough-house tactics by the Tigers, during the Saints’ 45 point victory which maintains their unbeaten start to 2004.
Thomas said Baker only struck Johnson because he was already concussed following the treatment dished out to him by the Tigers.
“Steven was felled off the ball about five times and quite obviously they (Richmond) had a tactic to do that,” Thomas said.
“And he actually didn’t have his full faculties with him (when he struck Johnson).”
However Frawley – a former teammate of Thomas during their playing days at St Kilda – was livid when told of Thomas’ comments after the game.
“That’s absolute crap, go and watch the tape (of the incident),” Frawley said.
Frawley said it was well known in the AFL that it was Baker who had a reputation of targeting players, not the other way around.
“Baker targets every opposition player,” he said.
“I will defend my players until the cows come home.”
But Thomas claimed Baker was targeted for extra physical treatment by the Tigers because they knew he would tagging Richmond’s match-winner Nathan Brown.
“He (Baker) copped a very big whack from (Shane) Morrison earlier in the game off the footy and they probably knew he (Baker) was on Brown.”
“Brown’s important to Richmond and they probably said Baker’s going to be on him, so don’t miss an opportunity to let him know that you’re there – and they didn’t.”
However despite claiming Baker was groggy when he struck Johnson in the third quarter, Thomas also said the Saints’ tagger had been given the all-clear by the medical staff at half-time.
Frawley said there had been “a few cheap shots” during the game but vowed it was not his team acting outside the rules.
“I will defend my players to the hilt, all I can say is watch the video and the AFL will look after those incidents,” he said.
“But if there has been innuendo from an opposition coach and he wants to have a crack at our players, I say we play the game fairly and squarely.”
“If they (St Kilda) want to mouth off while they are winners, that’s great but don’t bring us into it.”
“Let the AFL handle it…..end of comment.”