David King has seen plenty of bizarre incidents in the heat of battle over the years, but he believes Charlie Spargo may have just committed the “dumbest” act this year.
Spargo, a Kangaroos recruit, caused tensions to boil over late in the first term of his side’s 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) win over the West Coast Eagles on Saturday after he threw Brady Hough to the ground.
Charlie Spargo drags down Brady Hough. Daniel Carson
North Melbourne were in control of the gaming for most of the opening term before West Coast’s Harley Reid found his time to shine.
Reid won a free kick inside forward 50 and slotted a goal, before winning yet another free kick after being collected high in a tackle by Luke Davis-Uniacke roughly 15 metres away from goal.
The 21-year-old was unable to get the ball through the middle posts after earning that free kick, but his actions were met by the heated words of his opponents.
West Coast players were expecting their opponents to remonstrate, moving Reid away from those rushing in. But before anyone could get hold of Reid, Spargo unexpectedly threw Hough to the turf.
Jy Simpkin (c) wrestles in the pack AFL Photos via Getty Images
The incident unfolded right in the path of the umpire who paid a free kick and then a 50-metre penalty for a separate incident.
Hough, returning to his feet with ease, slotted the free goal to punch his team ahead by five at the end of the first term.
However, King was not impressed by the actions of Spargo at the end of the term.
“That could be the dumbest thing you’ll see this year from Charlie Spargo,” he said after the free kick was awarded for his actions on Fox Footy.
“You’ve got experience and you’re in this football club to have an impact on the youth coming through. You can’t be the reason why you’re giving free kicks away at the top of the square.
“It’s not tough, it’s not smart … there is nothing in it. You have nothing to gain from doing that. You’ve got to be better than that.
“He is in their heads right now, Harley Reid.”
Jack Darling of the Kangaroos celebrates a goal AFL Photos via Getty Images
To add to the chaos of the first term, West Coast gun Hamish Davis was forced to the sidelines with a concussion after being smashed in a tackle by Paul Curtis.
Tensions did not calm down throughout the remainder of the match, however, North Melbourne managed to fight back and claim a one-point win in the end.
“I think we got away with it in the end,” North Melbourne captain Nick Larkey told Fox Footy post-match.
“Luck went our way, which it hasn’t for a while. We’ll take that win for sure.”