‘Roman Colosseum’: Hardwick’s take on Cats fortress... and plea to AFL for change on ‘ridiculous look’
Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick criticized the umpiring and home ground advantage at Kardinia Park following his team's loss to Geelong. Hardwick compared the atmosphere to the Roman Colosseum and expressed frustration with specific AFL rule interpretations.
Why it matters
The comments highlight ongoing tensions regarding home ground advantage and the consistency of officiating in professional Australian Rules Football.
AFL ‘Roman Colosseum’: Hardwick’s take on Cats fortress... and plea to AFL for change on ‘ridiculous look’ Hardwick questions home ground advantage | 04:52 Will Faulkner from Fox Sports @willfaulknerfox June 13th, 2026 8:36 am Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has implied his side were battling more than just Geelong during their 45-point loss at Kardinia Park on Friday night, likening the venue to the “Roman Colosseum” as he questioned several umpiring decisions.
The article reports on the coach's subjective complaints while providing context from the match and the league's rules.
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