Gold Coast defender's gesture raises eyebrows as tempers boil over
The Suns star was left furious after watching Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe awarded a controversial free kick during the Hawks' third quarter comeback in Thursday night's thriller in Darwin.
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The Suns were given a huge scare when Hawthorn took the lead in the fourth quarter, but they kicked the final two goals of the game to win 16.8 (104) to 15.6 (96).
It was the Suns' eighth straight win in at TIO Stadium.
With the Hawks launching a comeback that saw them kick eight goals to two from late in the second term through to three-quarter time, frustrations exploded late in the term in the Hawthorn forward line.
Newcombe's free-kick was the trigger that sparked an all-in melee.
The 23-year-old went to ground after Suns star Touk Miller, playing in his 200th game, reached across his opponent's body during a marking contest inside the Hawks' forward 50m arc.
You can watch the free kick in the video player above.
After hearing the whistle blow, Miller's incredulous smile showed exactly how he felt about Newcombe's act.
Holman then ran in and went a step further by barking in Newcombe's face and sticking his index finger out as the Hawks star went to line up for his shot on goal.
Hawthorn's best-and-fairest winner from 2024 slotted the goal and then celebrated with a roar as Miller charged in to give him a bump.
Several Suns players then ran in to give Newcombe a shove or two before things began to simmer.
Another scuffle involving several players broke out after Blake Hardwick kicked his third goal for the night deep in the third quarter to give the Hawks the lead for the first time.
As Hawthorn and Port Adelaide great Shaun Burgoyne noted, 'there was a lot of spice in that quarter off the ball'.
Crows legend Eddie Betts said the Hawks appeared to be the team that benefited most from the physical battle.
'There is so much spice in it. The crowd was … going crazy. There was a big fight there,' Betts said on Fox Footy.
'But I think that is what got Hawthorn back into it, their energy and their spice to compete.'
in the end the Suns got it done for their inspirational leader Miller.
The milestone man got his chance to celebrate the occasion early on responding to a Hawk's opener with one from his own from the edge of the 50.
Noah Anderson was huge for a second week in the Top End conditions and played out a 30 disposal game and had a wonder goal of his own.
John Noble had 35 possessions in a defensive effort that helped the Suns secure an early lead and continued to show up all night.
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