Barry Hall reported again, Eade fumes
Western Bulldogs star Barry Hall is on report again but coach Rodney Eade claims his forward gets no protection from AFL umpires and was forced to defend himself against North Melbourne.
Hall was booked twice on Saturday at Etihad Stadium, for wrestling North's Scott Thompson and for putting his opponent in a headlock as they battled during the second quarter.
Eade quickly moved to get Hall from the ground once he had separated himself from Thompson and the resultant melee, but Hall was confronted by several Kangaroos as he tried to run from the ground.
Eade said Hall - whose shocking tribunal record stands at 26 games suspended in 15 seasons - was "besieged" by Kangaroos trying to ruffle him, but got no support from umpires.
"I just wish he'd get protection," Eade said after the Bulldogs won 20.7 (127) to 7.15 (57).
"It's going to be blown up because it's him, but if it was anybody else it wouldn't be.
"He's got kneed while he's doing his lace up and then he gets besieged and then he gets attacked while he's coming off the ground. No protection.
"He gets done for wrestling but that's OK, that's fine, but then misconduct because he had someone in a headlock?
"If you had three blokes coming at you, what are you supposed to do, actually cop it? It's interesting. The tougher players tend not to get protection."
Hall admitted he was frustrated by Thompson's tactics, but said there was nothing he could do.
"It's disappointing but that's part of the game, I guess," he told the Ten Network.
"Unfortunately the rules cater for people like that and you can't do anything about it. So you've got to cop it."
Eade also took swipe at North's tactics, and said his players had retained their composure amid a series of "cheap shots" off the ball.
Bulldogs Dylan Addison and Daniel Giansiracusa suffered cuts to the head in clashes, while Liam Picken was on the end of a knee from North's Scott McMahon.
McMahon was reported and Thompson was also booked, for wrestling and headbutting Hall.
"I thought the discipline and our character showed through and that's why we had such a big win," Eade said.
North coach Brad Scott refused to buy into Eade's claim, but said Thompson was entitled to niggle his opponent.
"They've both been reported, the tribunal will deal with that, but I was really proud of Scott's efforts. He stood up for us," Scott said.
"I thought he played the way a fullback should play, he got a reaction out of the full-forward."
Hall was troubled by on-field indiscretions in his final years at Sydney, which ultimately prompted him to retire from the club last year, and he was later traded to the Bulldogs.
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