The full details behind Damien Hardwick's intriguing comments about out of contract Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch are slowly coming to the surface, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture.
In yesterday's Herald Sun, Hardwick was quoted as saying “the quality of those sorts of players don’t come out (of contract) often, so you’ve got to have a look at it,” when he was asked about Lynch and whether or not chatting to out of contract players during the season is a variable option.
However, the Tigers have since apologised about the comments, while Richmond head of footy Neil Balme disagreed with Hardwick's views yesterday.
Another element to the drama is that Fox Footy edited out the Lynch part of the interview which aired during the JLT Community Series match against North Melbourne, and SEN newsman Sam Edmund has attempted to piece together what is happening behind the scenes.
"If you were watching the pre-recorded Hardwick interview on Fox Footy last night, there was no mention of Lynch," he told SEN Breakfast.
"We suspect this has been since cut out because it emerged yesterday that Richmond had apologised to the Gold Coast.
"Specifically, we understand it to be (list manager) Blair Hartley who rang (CEO) Mark Evans at the Suns, I have checked with the Suns and this is correct. An apology was forthcoming."
Three-time premiership player Tim Watson added Gold Coast is "outraged" with the way the situation has played out in the media.
The Tigers also aren't happy with proceedings.
"Richmond are filthy as well," Edmund said.
"The interview was recorded weeks and weeks ago, and then Jon Ralph wrote the story. He quoted the coach, which is all you can do.
"They're angry. They didn't say it directly, but you get the vibe he might have been taken a bit out of context and the timing was off.
"It's an absolute mess."
After the Tigers' win over the Kangaroos last night, Hardwick said the apology was "news to me" and he wasn't sure what the club was apologising for.