In a dramatic moment during the highly attended Anzac Day match, 23-year-old Archie Perkins was spotted making an eyebrow-raising gesture towards club great Brent Stanton. Positioned on the centre wing, Perkins made an early impact with 14 disposals and a goal. His efforts shone through in a tough loss for the team.
The final played before a raucous 95,000 fans. Especially on the field Perkins made no secret of his frustrations. Then he looked up the line at Stanton, who was still sitting on the bench. Then, he lifts both hands up and seems to give him the finger. At half-time break Perkins and Stanton reportedly had words in a very heated personal exchange. What created that tension in the air perhaps was vague guidance given by the coaching staff.
Assistant Coach Brad Scott weighed in on the situation, indicating that Perkins’ gesture was a result of frustration because she was receiving mixed messages. “Perk’s extremely frustrated because … We had Perk coming off the ground and I said to Brent Stanton, ‘hold him, I want him to stay there,’” Scott explained. He further elaborated, saying, “Perk had gone to come off, we pushed him back out there. (Perkins) was basically saying, ‘which one is it? Stay or come?’”
Perkins is averaging just over 16 touches and a goal across his five senior matches this season, showcasing his potential despite the pressures of professional play. His gesture sparked discussions among commentators, including Channel 7’s Kane Cornes, who remarked, “There’s clearly some frustration with the instruction towards Archie and he has given him … what looks like an offensive gesture.”
Scott went on to admit that the unusual circumstances of the match only complicated the confusion. “95,000 at Anzac Day, we can’t use the runner. So don’t shoot the messenger, I told Stants,” he stated. This candid comment speaks to the complexities that coaches face when attempting to communicate in high-stress, fast-paced environments. Traditional ways of managing players aren’t effective during these tense moments.
The situation immediately began to evoke comparisons to other recent controversies in which players have made similar gestures. Perkins followed in the footsteps of Harley Reid and Bailey Smith. All three received disciplinary actions for giving obscene middle fingers to fans. These comparisons highlight the behavior of players, but the potentially dehumanizing pressures that ultra-competitive matches like this one entail.
