Hardwick 'rightly whacked'
Damien Hardwick says he deserved to be fined for making abusive comments towards an emergency umpire
RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick is repentant about his abuse of an emergency umpire during the to 19-point loss to Essendon last Saturday night.
Hardwick was given a suspended $5000 fine on Wednesday for his comments towards the umpire on the interchange bench during the third quarter.
Essendon led by 25 points at three-quarter time after kicking 4.2 to the Tigers' 5.8 in the third quarter.
"It wasn't one of my finer moments," Hardwick said.
"With the state of the game, I got a bit carried away. I overstepped the mark. I regretted it straight away.
"I spoke the emergency umpire Michael yesterday. He was a ripper fella. He likened me to a young John McEnroe, which is probably not a great look.
"They're such important people in the game. I told Michael I understood that and he accepted my apology.
"I was rightly whacked."
Tall forward Tyrone Vickery, who has been out with a calf injury, trained with the main group at Punt Road on Thursday morning and is under consideration for the match against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.