The young Lion who tormented Dustin Martin to the brink of Brownlow ineligibility has gained an unlikely fan in Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.
Tigers superstar Martin was niggled relentlessly by Brisbane's Nick Robertson during the third quarter of last Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium.
There was little doubt Martin took the points, finishing with 40 disposals and two goals as the Tigers notched a 31-point win, but he also faced trouble after firing back at Robertson.
Martin was handed a $1500 fine for making "unreasonable and unnecessary" high contact, while Robertson was fined for kneeing Richmond's midfield star and suspended for headbutting Tigers captain Trent Cotchin.
While initially unhappy with Robertson's tactics, Hardwick later admitted to admiring the 22-year-old's combativeness.
"Robertson probably thought he went too far on the day but I really like the way that kid goes about his footy," Hardwick said on Friday.
"He's aggressive, he's a soldier and those sort of players I feel have a place in our game.
"All we ask for is, like most other teams, reward the guys playing the ball and if the free kick's there, the free kick's there."
Martin has been in scintillating form this season but must walk a tightrope to remain eligible for his first Brownlow medal.
The star on-baller already has two low-level charges to his name, and a third would trigger a one-game suspension.
"Every player that plays the game knows that when they step over the line and they cop a whack, they've got to be careful from here on in," Hardwick said.
"It is tough. You ask a player to play to his absolute best and then sometimes they do step over the line.
"With Dustin, we generally don't have to worry about that."
Hardwick indicated the fifth-placed Tigers were plotting their own hard tag against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
Off-season recruit Dion Prestia had his best game of the season matched up on Brisbane's Dayne Zorko and will play a similar role against the third-placed Giants.
"He plays his best footy when he's got a starting point and then can work off," Hardwick said.
"He'll get some sort of role for us."
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