'Shouldn't do that': James Sicily under fire over post-match act in Hawthorn rooms
AFL fans have moved to defend James Sicily after the Hawthorn captain was criticised by Matthew Lloyd on Monday night. Speaking on 'Footy Classified' on Channel 9, Essendon legend Lloyd highlighted vision of Sicily sitting with his head in his hands after the Hawks' loss to Collingwood last Friday night.
It marked Hawthorn's third loss in a row, and Sicily appeared a shattered man amid a worrying form slump. The vision showed the skipper with his head down and face covered, not interacting with any of his teammates.
Speaking on Monday night, Lloyd said Sicily needed to show stronger leadership than what he did in the rooms after the game. "Last year I thought he stood up really well when they weren't going well after five rounds," Lloyd said. "He came on and did an interview with us and gee he was good. He had a wonderful season last year so it's too soon to question whether he's the right captain.
"But I still feel he's very temperamental, and I don't think at times as a captain he's balanced enough (with his emotions). Even that vision in the rooms. I don't think as a captain you should have your head in your hands after the game."
When suggested to Lloyd that players should be allowed to show emotion, he used James Hird as an example of a captain who never gave away when they were hurting. "You've got to be strong for everyone. You get up and get around everyone else and start talking to others," he said.
"What I loved about James Hird is you would never know what kind of day he was having. Whether he was having a poor day or a good day he was the voice of reason and calmness in the rooms for us."
Taking to social media, fans were quick to question whether that was the right message for Lloyd to be sending considering how times have changed. In the modern landscape, players are being encouraged to show more emotion and not bottle up how they're feeling.
One person wrote: "Not everyone is a robot. Some players actually have emotions!" Another commented: "Imagine attacking a man for sharing his feelings with his mates."
Lloyd also suggested coach Sam Mitchell move Sicily out of the forward line. "He's a surprise forward at times, but he shouldn't be starting there," Lloyd said.
When a team loses games everything gets analysed within an inch of its life. The way the players talk, walk, interact, interview and now how they act 10 mins after a loss and if their head is down or not. If he doesn't show emotion guess what? NO EMOTION! NOT A CAPTAIN!!
— Luke (@Luke5557725) June 2, 2025
Not everyone is a robot.Some players actually have emotions!
— Nev_is_here 🇭🇲😸🇦🇺 (@Nev_or_never) June 2, 2025
Maybe Sis had a headache? Seriously Llody, what do you want Sis to do, walk around with his chest pumped out?
— The Thirsty Hawk (@thethirstyhawk) June 2, 2025
Mitchell launched a stirring defence of Sicily before the Collingwood game amid speculation he's battling groin issues. But Melbourne great Garry Lyon reckons it showed the Hawks have become "unnecessarily edgy."
He said on Fox Footy: 'I thought 'they're getting unnecessarily wound up here' ... to me that was the mindset going in and they got punched in the nose. They're going to get more heat and they'll probably get crankier, but that's not going to do you any good. I did get a mindset they felt like they were under siege. They weren't under siege, it was just good old fashioned critique.'
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On SEN radio, former West Coast coach Adam Simpson called for Sicily to step up. 'Sicily, as much as you don't want to point the finger at one particular player, I'm not sure if he's feeling sorry for himself or if he's feeling the burden of leadership, I wouldn't know, but you need your leaders to lead now," he said.
'Whether it's on the track, whether it's after the game they get together, or whether it's game day, you need your leaders and that's what they're working through.'
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