Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish was booed onto the stage as he was announced as the Yiooken Award winner after the Bombers went down to Richmond in Dreamtime at the âG.
Parish finished with a game-high 40 disposals in a dominant performance befitting of his best-on-ground medal, but the Richmond faithful clearly werenât pleased and showed their disapproval.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Darcy Parish booed onto stage as he wins best on ground medal
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
The 28-year-old was involved in a scuffle on the wing with several players from both sides that resulted in a 50-metre penalty to the Tigers, which could have been the source of the boos.
Parish, who is the second player to win the Yiooken Award from a losing side, cut a dejected figure as he accepted the honour from Aunty Pam Pedersen.
âItâs obviously a huge honour to play (in) this game,â he said to the boos of the Richmond fans.
âAll the credit to Richmond tonight, too good for us.
âI donât know what to say. Weâre out here to win and we didnât do the job tonight.
âWeâll be back better next week, but I appreciate everyone coming out.â
Former Essendon captain Zach Merrett told Channel 7 after the game the boos were âpretty disppointingâ.
âWhat an amazing occasion to be involved in for both clubs, and an award that means a lot to both clubs to win,â Merrett said.
âItâs a bit disappointing. Iâm sure it was more around that incident on the far wing, giving a 50-metre penalty more than anything personal.
âBut I think itâs a celebration of so much more than us tonight and hopefully thatâs not the main storyline.â
Acting Richmond skipper Tim Taranto and milestone man Jayden Short, in his 200th game, were influential in the Tigersâ 10.14 (74) to 7.14 (56) victory at the MCG on Friday night.
Another huge crowd of 78,815 fans was on hand for the annual âDreamtime at the âGâ centrepiece of Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.
They witnessed a disaster for the Bombers (1-10), who lost skipper Andy McGrath to a broken jaw, Sam Durham (concussion) and Matt Guelfi (hamstring) to injuries before halftime.
McGrath took an accidental elbow to the mouth in the second term and was taken in an ambulance to hospital for treatment.
A sixth-straight loss extended Essendonâs worst start to a season in a decade and sent them to the bottom of the ladder.
The only downside for Richmond (2-9) – already nursing the leagueâs longest injury list – was losing young tall Jonty Faull (concussion) after a heavy collision with Mason Redman.
Taranto shone with 29 disposals and eight clearances, Short gathered 30 touches and a goal, while Patrick Retschko (27 possessions), Tyler Sonsie (21) and Seth Campbell (21) were all busy.
Tom Lynch and Steely Green kicked two majors each.
Parish (40 disposals, nine clearances), Zach Merrett (36, four) and Archie Roberts (33 touches) fought hard for Essendon, while Archer May (three) and Nate Caddy (two) both kicked multiple goals.
Caddy had Bombers fans on their feet when he kicked their first goal and set up the second after a one-handed mark.
But they lost Durham and Guelfi in the opening stages, and Richmond led 4.5 to 2.2 at quarter-time.
Mykelti Lefauâs soccer-inspired goal was the highlight of an even second term and Short sparked Tigers celebrations when he slotted the first major after halftime.
The margin reached a game-high 22 points but an inaccurate Essendon dominated territory for the third quarter, booting 1.6 to 1.3 as Mayâs third major helped them get back with two straight kicks by the final change.
Jye Caldwell cut the deficit further and there was a controversial moment when Archer Day-Wicks slid to rush a behind on the goal-line and took out Greenâs legs, but was not penalised.
It didnât matter as Lynch converted a set shot moments later to give Richmond breathing space and second-gamer Noah Roberts-Thomson kicked the sealer in time-on.
With AAP
