AFL
3 weeks ago
“Out of line”: Caroline Wilson’s criticism of Damien Hardwick
By SEN
Caroline Wilson has taken aim at Damien Hardwick after his comments about Jacinta Allan.
The Gold Coast coach criticised the Victorian Premier after his Suns were beaten by Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Hardwick referenced Allan’s comments about Noah Balta, saying it was an “absolute mockery” that she had commented on the assault case that the Tigers defender is facing.
Hardwick, formerly Balta’s coach at the Tigers, outlined that it was not the Premier’s place to speak on the matter.
"We've got a premier that put her nose in someone else's business - she should just concentrate on getting the state running well," Hardwick said.
"It's an absolute mockery, her making comments with regard to that.
"At the end of the day, he's pled guilty. He understands that he's going to cop his fair whack."
In response to those comments, Wilson smashed Hardwick’s opinion, telling him not to wade into areas he has knowledge of.
“Damien, politics aside, you were out of line on Saturday night,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“Just like your were when you bagged the curator at Richmond’s beloved MCG, and just like you were when you ridiculed John Longmire’s game plan and later had to apologise.
“And when you turned on Marvel Stadium which weirdly had a detrimental effect for two or three seasons on Richmond’s win-loss ratio.
“But even some Gold Coast officials were perplexed when you had a crack at Jacinta Allan, the Victorian Premier, over her comments about Noah Balta.
“And you were wrong. I would have thought law and order was in the remit of every State Premier, particularly one whose Government has committed $15 million to the Punt Road rebuild in the name of community.
“Damien, so many people outside of footy were critical of the Balta selection and the Premier was simply answering a question.
“So when you’re going to stick your nose into issues outside of footy, get your facts right.”
Co-panelist Craig Hutchison added: “I agree with you, his comments were tone deaf and he got involved in something he didn’t need to.”
Balta has pled guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after setting upon a man in Mulwala in December, and is awaiting sentencing set to take place on Tuesday.
Richmond handed Balta an in-club suspension following the incident, ruling him out for the first four games of 2025, subsequently leaving the 25-year-old available for selection across both Round 5 and Round 6, prior to sentencing.
With many debating as to whether Balta should be granted permission to play following the commencement of his in-club suspension, Allan spoke at the back end of last week, holding firm that the defender should not be a thought for selection.
“How do we explain to kids, particularly, how do we answer that question? How does the AFL and the Richmond Football Club answer that question, about what’s going on here?” Allan had said.
“What sort of message does this send to kids about what’s right and what’s wrong? I think that’s really a question for the AFL and Richmond need to answer.
“What a sickening, what a sickening attack that was. And again, let’s remember the victim here and who would be, no doubt, deeply traumatised by this experience.”
The Richmond Football Club opted to play Balta in their Round 6 clash with the Suns and he starred with 14 disposals and five marks while keeping Ben King to just one goal in Richmond’s shock victory.
SEN’s David Schwarz was on board with Hardwick's statement, expressing his agreement with the Suns' coach early this morning.
“I think what ‘Dimma’ said was right,” Ox told SEN’s Point of View.
“You can only get the penalties that come your way and you’ve got to deal with them.
“He has made a huge error, he has admitted guilt, he’s got to go through the courts... that will all happen.”
Ox was also complementary on Balta’s role in the Tigers’ scalp over the previously undefeated Suns, stating that his role was crucial in the club’s second victory of the season.
“Unbelievable,” Schwarz said.
“He allowed (Nick) Vlaustin, and he allowed the other backs at Richmond to play their style
“Whether it was (Nathan) Broad or whoever, he just gives them enormous confidence.
“Balta got boos, but by the end of it they wanted to chair him off.
“The one thing about Richmond supporters, you play for the Tigers, and they love you.”
Balta's sentencing takes place on Tuesday, with the potential to face up to five years of jail time.
