Four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has accused Sydney small forward Tom Papley of staging for free kicks.
Clarkson's comments come after Papley kicked a double goal for "milking" a free-kick after he was pushed by James Frawley.
The Hawks lost the free-kick count 23-13 in the seven-point loss to the Swans, a figure which Clarkson said made it feel like the Swans had an extra player on the field.
โA low-scoring game and the free kicks are 22-13 against, itโs like weโre giving them an extra player on the ground," Clarkson said after the game.ย
โHe [Papley] milks a free-kick as well as anyone in the competition.
โYou just wish they were consistently paid to everyone that gets knocked off the ball like that.
โNine other occasions in the game someone gets knocked to the ground and the umpire doesnโt pay it."
Sydney coach John Longmire was seething after Clarkson's comments but refused to add fuel to the argument.
โAlastair said that about Papley!?โ Longmire said in his post-game press conference.
โI donโt talk about opposition players. Iโm not here to comment on that [decision]. And I donโt think I will be commenting on opposition players.โ
Hawthorn travel to Perth to take on Carlton at Optus Stadium next Friday night, while Sydney face St Kilda at the Gabba next Saturday.
