HE OBVIOUSLY CROSSED THE LINE..?! – Fury erupts over Hawthorn captain’s obnoxious final-siren act after dramatic Fremantle win
Fury over Hawthorn captain’s ‘obnoxious’ final siren act after Fremantle win
Hawthorn let all the emotions go after the final siren sounded on Thursday night, but one star has been accused of going too far.
James Sicily has been accused of crossing the line as he gave a spray to Fremantle’s Patrick Voss after the final siren on Thursday night.
The Dockers were unrecognisable at times as the team’s Optus Stadium fortress crumbled during a 32-point qualifying final loss to the Hawks.
Fremantle suffered one of the worst cases of finals footy stage fright when they were held to just one goal in the first half.
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Hawthorn players and coaching staff were emotional after the massive upset victory and Sicily let his emotions go in front of Voss.
The defender was seen spitting fury towards Voss and yelled some words towards him as they passed each other.
The incident between two of the more divisive characters in the competition divided many footy fans.
You can watch the incident in the video player above.
James Sicily lets Patrick Voss have it after the final siren. Photo: Fox Footy.
James Sicily kept on walking. Photo: Fox Footy.
Fans on social media shared their joy at seeing the so-called loudmouth Freo forward given a taste of his own medicine.
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However, plenty flocked to X to share their dislike of Sicily’s antics.
Responding to a video of the interaction on X, one footy fan posted: “Most unlikeable player in the competition”.
Another person posted: “The captain that displays the worst behaviours in the AFL by far.
“He’s bloody awful when he gets beat, and behaves like an obnoxious school kid when we wins.”
James Sicily can’t help himself. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
There’s a lot of pain and suffering in those eyes. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
One X user posted: “He is the grub of all grubs”.
Responding to an X post from Code Sports, other fans labelled Sicily “the biggest flog in the game” and described the act as a “coward’s move”.
Sicily stood tall for the Hawks, playing one of his best games as Fremantle’s star-studded forward line failed to fire a shot.
Sicily was far from the only Hawks star unashamedly soaking in the moment.
Hawks coach kisses players
Hawthorn coach kisses players after win over Fremantle
Hawthorn coach Sam…
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell was also seen kissing his players as they congratulated each other.
Mercurial forward Nick Watson got a cheeky peck on the cheek and a kiss on the top of his head, leaving Hawthorn teammates chuckling.
Will Day and Bailey McDonald also copped nuzzling embraces from the Hawthorn legend.
Watson was asked about Mitchell’s emotional embraces after the game.
“Me and Mitch have a tight connection,” he said.
Sam Mitchell kisses Nick Watson. Photo: Fox Footy.
Sam Mitchell nuzzles in. Photo: Fox Footy.
“Number Five. He sent me a letter yesterday. He said I love seeing you wear No. 5. Since I got here, he’s been great for me and good for my learning and I love him to death. I couldn’t be more fortunate to have him as a coach.”
Day was the most emotional Hawk of all and appeared to be in tears. It was Day’s first appearance in a finals series game.
“He’s so resilient,” Mitchell said during his post game press conference.
“He’s been through so much. I was thinking about imagining his self doubt when he wakes up this morning thinking, ‘I’ve never been on this stage, am I going to be OK’. Most of the other boys have. Not just to perform at the level hat he did.
“He showed it more than I did, but I felt exactly the way he did after the game.”
Mitchell knows job is not done
Mitchell’s side completely overwhelmed the Dockers on their own turf.
“In 10 years’ time, when you put any 10 minutes of that game on, anyone watching it would say that looks like the final to me,” he said.
“The pressure from both teams, lots of mistakes, lots of fantastic pieces of play. I’m just so proud of the boys to play so consistently for so long.
“And you have to against the best teams.”
Will Day was emotional at full time. Photo: Fox Footy.
Sam Mitchell and Tom Barrass hug. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
From the opening bounce, Hawthorn’s method was clear, suffocate Fremantle with relentless pressure across all three lines. The midfield’s work rate underpinned territory and repeat entries, while the forwards repeatedly pushed up and back to create outnumbers around the ball.
“It’s no different to under‑10s, if you’ve got more numbers there, generally you do a bit better,” Mitchell said.
“Our forwards’ work rate was a real highlight. We didn’t always use the ball at our best, but the way they created outnumber after outnumber was huge.”
Behind the ball, Hawthorn’s tall defenders delivered on a carefully plotted plan. Star Fremantle forward Josh Treacy failed to register a kick until the final five minutes, as the Hawks’ key backs, primed by backline coach Kade Simpson, repeatedly won critical contests.
The Dockers star forward trio of Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss, who kicked 153 goals between then during the season, combined for just two on Thursday. Fremantle managed only five goals as a team.
Mitchell, however, clearly knows the job is far from done.
“You don’t coach this game to get to preliminary finals,” he said.
“We know there’s still two wins to go.”
– with NewsWire
