Richmond senior club advisor Neil Balme has revealed why the Tigers refused Channel Seven’s Daisy Pearce into their changerooms after their Round 1 draw against Carlton.
Since retiring, the AFLW star has taken up a dual role with Seven and the Geelong Cats where she is working as an assistant coach for the men’s team this year.
Balme says the Tigers simply didn’t want an assistant coach from another club in their rooms, even though he’d trust that she wouldn’t be there for nefarious reasons.
“It probably seems a bit unkind,” Balme told SEN Afternoons.
“But it’s just a thing that you don’t really want assistant coaches from other clubs hanging around rooms after games to see what they can find out.
“I know I’d trust her to the point that it’s not what she is there for.
“But you can’t do both jobs, so I think it’s reasonable of us to say that.
“It’s certainly not personal.”
SEN’s Dwayne Russell believes Richmond’s move is a sign of respect to Pearce given they clearly feel she has the ability to figure something out that could be of use to the Cats.
Balme agreed that Pearce is certainly intelligent enough to do so and credited Geelong for securing her services as a coach.
“It is (is a sign of respect),” Balme said.
“She could figure something out, she’s got a lovely footy mind.
“Geelong are really lucky to have her but to be able to do both jobs is a bit difficult at times.”
Carlton reportedly had no issues with Pearce entering their rooms, but reports have suggested a number of other clubs have expressed concerns.