Rising Fremantle key forward Jye Amiss is being unfairly “manhandled” off the ball and needs umpires to protect him better, says Dockers coach Justin Longmuir.
Amiss, 20, kicked two goals in his return from concussion on Sunday, as Fremantle claimed a 15.13 (103) to 6.13 (49) win at the MCG over Richmond.
He received a free kick and goaled just before the full-time siren when Richmond defender Ben Miller flung him to the ground, then dropped his knees into him – incensing the forward’s Fremantle teammates and causing a scuffle.
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“I’ve got big concerns the way he’s been treated all year. We’ve gone to the umpires asking for a bit more protection for Jye,” Longmuir said.
“Some of the treatment he got behind the ball today — I understand that defenders need to block runs and all that type of thing but that incident late, it’s not ideal.
“And I feel like he’s been manhandled at times and throughout the year we need to look after those type of players.
“Opposition defenders see that he’s a little bit lighter framed and he’s young and the only way they can stop him is get him in those wrestles and sometimes take it across the line.
“So in those situations, the umpires need to interpret those situations and stop it because defenders will keep getting away with as much as they’re allowed to get away with.
“AFL footballers are very smart. So we’ll continue that (discussion) with the AFL. We need to look after him because I am concerned at times that he’s going to get injured.”
Longmuir stressed Amiss was fine and unbothered by his treatment
“But I feel like as a coach, and as a club, we’ve got to look after him,” he added.
Longmuir said Fremantle hadn’t received the “result” they’d wanted from the AFL yet, but would remain “in dialogue” with them and continue to point out examples of Amiss being “manhandled”.
Richmond counterpart Adem Yze said he didn’t see the Miller-Amiss incident.
“No, we didn’t have a target on him or anything like that,” Yze said.
“So not sure what was happening. I think it was just two young guys going at it and having a bit of a wrestle.”
But when it was noted Longmuir had been unhappy with Amiss’s treatment throughout the game, and called it manhandling, Yze scoffed at the suggestion and took objection.
“Okay, yeah, well, our defenders try to limit the access their forwards get at the ball,” he said.
“So if that’s manhandling, well then that’s the game. We’re not going to allow a forward to get a clear run at it.
“He’s a good young player that needs a jump at the footy. So our defenders do try to limit the opportunity that their forwards get to jump at the footy.
“So if that’s manhandling, well so be it — that’s the game.”
