Richmond coach Damien Hardwick calls for the draw to be scrapped after Fremantle stalemate

Both Richmond and Fremantle could be left to rue the result that got away after their Friday night stalemate – and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick is not pushing for the AFL to eliminate the draw. 

Both Noah Balta and Noah Cumberland had chances to kick a winning score for the Tigers but were unable to convert, leaving the club teetering in eighth spot on the AFL ladder.

If the Western Bulldogs can engineer and upset over the Melbourne Demons today and St Kilda can beat the battling West Coast Eagles in Perth on Sunday, they could finish the round as low as 10th on the ladder.

Compounding the result, superstar Dustin Martin could be out for the season after aggravating a hamstring complaint.

Speaking to media after the match, Hardwick said they should have kept playing with so much at stake. 

‘I think, to me, keep going until the next team scores,’ Hardwick said.

Hardwick wants to see the draw eliminated in home and away games in the AFL season

‘Both sides have these ridiculous signs that we hold up with 30 seconds and ten seconds, and maybe it’s just the next score.

‘Look at today’s game. That would have been interesting to see that (next score wins) but who knows.’

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir was not getting drawn on the issue, though, despite the result meaning his side could be spat out of the AFL top four.

‘Play what the rules are,’ Longmuir said.

‘Let the people in higher up places determine the rules and we will just play to them I suppose.’

Fyfe left the field in the third quarter and will need scans to determine the extent of the injury

While the Tigers will be sweating on the fitness of Martin, Fremantle have their own concerns with star Nat Fyfe also aggravating a hamstring injury. 

‘This is a roadbump, that’s the way I see this,’ Longmuir said.

‘We’ve got over his big injuries and sometimes when you’re trying to come back and trying to be really committed, you can have little setbacks and that’s all this is, just hopefully a little setback.’

Blake Acres (left) and David Mundy of the Dockers react after the draw against Richmond

After the team fought back from being seven points down to draw in what could be two valuable points for the top-four contenders, Longmuir said Fyfe was in good spirits.

With the result, Fremantle moves up to third place, but if Brisbane and Collingwood beat Gold Coast and Essendon, they could fall to fifth place.

‘He’s a pro, he had a smile on his face and he got around his teammates,’ Longmuir said.

‘We’ll get it scanned and give everyone an update.’