Eddie McGuire Urges AFL to Implement New Taunting Rule: ‘Such Behaviour Isn’t Acceptable’

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has urged the AFL to introduce a rule against taunting.

McGuire’s remarks followed an incident during Hawthorn’s commanding 65-point victory over Richmond on Sunday, where Hawks captain James Sicily was observed goading Tigers forward Maurice Rioli Jr.

In the second quarter, Sicily tackled Rioli, knocking him to the ground, before aggressively pulling him up by his jumper and pushing him back down.

The altercation led to a broader brawl and a goal for the Hawks, following a holding-the-ball decision that went Sicily’s way before the confrontation with Rioli.

On Nine’s Footy Classified, McGuire contended that not only should Rioli have received a free kick for being tripped, but that the umpire should have instead issued a 50-metre penalty for taunting.

With Rioli Jr down and “unprotected,” McGuire expressed his disbelief that Sicily was able to get away with such provocative behaviour.

“The umpire missed the mark on taunting and provocation, and that free kick should have been reversed,” he stated.

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts

“I’d love to see a taunting rule implemented in our sport because I’m tired of witnessing behaviours on the field that we urge kids not to engage in at school and on the playground,” he added.

“No cheap shots; don’t be a rat; don’t push people when they’re unaware; don’t shove them in the back—all that kind of conduct.”

Essendon icon James Hird echoed McGuire’s sentiments, suggesting that Sicily had crossed the line by blurring the lines between intimidation and provocation.

“Intimidation is part and parcel of the game,” Hird acknowledged. “You intimidate and you get intimidated; it’s about pushing the boundaries, but what Sicily did was beyond that, and such behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated in our game.”

“That free kick ought to be reversed, or there should be a charge against the player involved.”

After round eight, match review officer Michael Christian issued hefty fines for players involved in melee situations, resulting in four players from the Sydney derby and 16 from the Hawthorn-Richmond clash being penalised, Sicily included.

McGuire described the actions on display as indicative of “plastic tough guys.”

A longtime advocate for enforcing a taunting rule, McGuire reiterated the idea of adopting a regulation similar to that in the NFL, where penalties are imposed on players for derogatory gestures or words aimed at opponents, as well as unsportsmanlike conduct that could escalate tensions during matches.

Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane highlighted the need to eliminate such behaviour to establish the right example for children watching the game.

“We must represent the correct behaviour for the youth watching us, and the AFL promotes this heavily,” Sloane remarked. “They want to encourage youngsters to understand, ‘This is how we conduct ourselves in the game.’

“Play the game the right way. What does that entail? It follows this principle: tough, hard, and fair.”