‘No one was filthy’: AFL great hits back at Origin claims in staunch defence

Victoria’s chairman of selectors and AFL 360 co-host Garry Lyon isn’t backing down in the face of stinging criticism of Origin.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has hit out at the State game and subsequent injury toll, while four-time premiership winner Jordan Lewis claimed “certain players” were “filthy” with their game time.

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But speaking on AFL360, Lyon has leapt to the defence of the format.

“No one was filthy,” he said.

“Actually, Toby Greene was filthy that he didn’t get to play more, Zach Merrett was probably filthy that he didn’t get to play in the midfield, they were filthy when they came off the ground.

“Maybe that was the speed of the game that caught them by surprise.

“We need the clubs’ support in all of this.

“We don’t want to see this (injury toll), but this is what happens in footy games. (Nick) Daicos, (Ed) Richards, (Marcus) Bontempelli and Greene, (Sam) Collins and (Noah) Anderson – they all thrived. Some didn’t.

“That’s just what footy is at this stage.”

Lyon’s comments come as clubs hit back over the Origin injury fallout, which included the likes of Matt Rowell (finger), Sam Taylor (hamstring), Patrick Dangerfield (calf), Bailey Smith (calf), Jacob Weitering (rib), Callum Ah Chee (hamstring) and Sam Darcy (back).

Speaking on Fox Footy, Hardwick was adamant the speed of the game was to blame.

“It’s really challenging when we’re preparing for Round Zero to have our players three to four weeks out playing the fastest game that’s probably ever been recorded on GPS,” he lamented.

“They just weren’t ready for it.

“We can’t compromise our season for a game – although important – that is not ready to be played at that time.”

While could understand those concerns, he was adamant the game was a success.

“They said it was dead and won’t work in February; it was a sellout. They said ‘oh OK well it’s a sell out but the big names when push comes to shove will pull out’ – not a single player pulled out, and they said ‘Oh when we get over there they won’t take it seriously, it’ll be Mickey Mouse’ – and now we’re getting criticised because it was taken too seriously!

“There’s always someone trying to talk this down, which disappoints me a bit.”

Bombers star Zach Merrett also spoke in favour of the Origin match, claiming it was a “dream come true” to pull on the Big V.

“The importance of Victoria and what the Big V stood for from an early age was massive and in my DNA,” he said on AFL 360.

“It was an incredible five days. I think every player that played would be a massive advocate for it moving forward.

“I was itching to get on a bit more!

“Pre-game, I think ‘Tobes’ (Toby Greene) was keen to start on the ground I case there was a biff started and I went to the bench.”

But Merrett agreed the 141-minute match could be shortened if changes were applied.

“I think if the game was maybe a little bit shorter, we can keep the intensity up and make sure we de-load the risk of injuries,” he said.

“I think the positives outweigh the negatives anyway.”

Lyon said it would be a “brave club” to turn players away from State representation should the format continue.