AFL 2022: Damien Hardwick blasts Dan Andrews, Richmond vs St Kilda result

On Sunday, the PM’s award-winning mentor took aim at the Australian Health Protection Senior Committee’s recommendation not to relax isolation rules for close contacts.

There are fresh calls for the Victorian government to change its isolation rules for household contacts over fears supermarket shelves and restaurants will remain empty over the Easter holiday.

Currently, anyone considered to be in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus must undergo seven days of isolation.

Hardwick became a powerful voice in the argument on Sunday when he called on Andrews to follow through on the National Cabinet’s agreement last month to have the isolation period waived for most close Covid-19 contacts.

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The restrictions have resulted in Tigers talent Sydney Stack being withdrawn from the Tigers’ VFL game this weekend against Sandringham.

Stack was living with someone who had recently tested positive for Covid.

Hardwick said in his post-match press conference: “If we could just get rid of the close contact Dan rule that would be great.

“It would make everyone’s life a lot easier.”

Victorian Minister for Innovation and Medical Research Jaala Pulford responded to Hardwick on Monday.

“Mr. Hardwick is entitled to his point of view. Everyone is entitled to their views, it has been a difficult and frustrating two years, but we will continue to listen to health experts,” she said.

Hardwick looked like a desperate coach after the 33-point loss to the Saints.

Forward Max King had another huge performance where he finished with four goals.

Hardwick put pressure on his players not to play stupid footy after a series of clumsy free kicks ultimately proved fatal.

The Tigers lost the number of free kicks 19-28.

“It’s disappointing and (especially) the low price of some of the free-kicks,” Hardwick said.

“Just discipline and just too high and the stopping free kicks hurt us again.

“We have to improve. We’ve been talking about this all year, trying to eradicate this from our game, but it creeps in at critical stages and it’s really, really costly.

“As you can’t defend from a free kick, you can’t press, they get a free disposal. So we need to improve on that front.