‘This is what they do these days’: Nick Dal Santo says fans now ‘need to accept’ scenes like this

Triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo says footy fans and commentators must now accept footy’s more relaxed post-match scenes, but stresses “no one hurts more than players” after a loss.

Dal Santo’s comments come after Hawthorn premiership teammates Bradley Hill (now-St Kilda), James Frawley (St Kilda) and Isaac Smith (Geelong) were shown sharing a lighter moment in the immediate aftermath of the Cats’ 21-point win over the Saints on Friday night.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack, senior foxfooty.com.au reporter Tom Morris referenced the mixed general public reaction to ex-Crows duo Patrick Dangerfield and Bernie Vince’s post-match interaction following Melbourne’s heartbreaking loss to Geelong in July, 2018.

Five-time premiership Hawk Dermott Brereton three years ago, after seeing the Dangerfield-Vince conversation, said players should “show a respect to the game, show a respect to your opponent, get off and socialise somewhere else”, adding: “You’re wearing the jumper and still portraying the image of what your club is about and the image of that jumper was the head poking through the top, having a laugh and smile.”

While Smith, Frawley and Hill’s interaction on Friday night was generally well accepted by fans when highlighted on social media, some Saints supporters questioned the aesthetics of the image.

But Dal Santo suggested that was an archaic view.

James Frawley and Isaac Smith having a laugh at Hawks training last year. Picture: Michael DodgeSource:AAP

“I‘m OK with that because – it probably happened in my time, I can’t recall any particular moments – this is what they do these days and I feel like we need to accept it,” Dal Santo told Fox Footy’s First Crack.

“There’s a feeling from the general public that players don’t care. I can guarantee you if you are ever thinking that, no one cares and no one hurts more than players. This is their livelihood, this is what they do six and a half days of the week.

“To think that they don‘t care, that them smiling or shaking hands with a past premiership teammate and having a little split moment of ‘well done’ and it looks very casual, I can promise you they’re not enjoying it when they walk back into the rooms.

“Are we worried about the way it looks generally? It doesn’t faze me because this is what they’re like.

“Tell those fans (who care about the look) they (the players) are hurting more than anybody – trust me. Players won’t sleep after a performance like that.”

AFL: Former Saints and Kangaroos champion Nick Dal Santo has slammed the AFL industry for ignoring the importance of kicking for goal….

AFL: Former Saints and Kangaroos champion Nick Dal Santo has slammed the AFL industry for ignoring the importance of kicking for goal.

Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon agreed.

“I don‘t mind it. I mean when the siren goes, you shake hands and if you’re going to have a little joke here or there, I don’t have a problem with it, I really don’t,” Dixon told First Crack.

“I can see that (why Saints fans would have an issue with it) … You want to win the game of footy, first and foremost. When the siren goes, me moping around while I‘m shaking hands, what does that do? Some blokes are that inclined.

“‘Issy’ is that (way) inclined. He jokes, (whether he’s) lost by 100 or won by 100, that’s exactly what he’s like.”

Originally published asFans told to ‘accept’ scenes like this

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