Two West Coast Eagles fan who engaged in a passionate tete-a-tete with Richmond's Tyrone Vickery on Friday night say they did not overstep the mark and would not hesitate to repeat their actions.
Ben and James - who made contact with Radio 6PR Breakfast on Wednesday morning - banged on the top of the Richmond dugout and gave Vickery a spray after he knocked out Eagles champion Dean Cox in a second-quarter ruck clash.
The pair were described as "lunatics hanging over the fence" in post-match comments by Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, who added "I don't know another profession in the world where you can walk into a bank teller and start calling them names like that."
But Ben and James both denied swearing at Vickery.
"I was the guy in the black hoodie," Ben said.
"We're just passionate supporters who love the Eagles, we didn't swear or anything like that. We were just sticking up for Coxy.
"[Vickery told us] we didn't know what we're talking about, in a friendly way. We copped more from Choco [Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams].
"There was no abuse at all. We'd never do anything to a player. But if players stand up for themselves, then so should spectators."
James said he just told Vickery to enjoy his inevitable suspension. The ruckman-forward was given a four-match ban by the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.
"I would have liked six but at the end of day four is fair enough," James said.
"We just said it [the hit on Cox] was a real low act and 'enjoy your holiday mate'.
"[Security told us to] Keep it down a bit. I don't swear at the footy, it's a family affair."
Asked if he would engage an opposing player in a similar manner in the future, James replied "bloody oath".
Vickery's four-match suspension has triggered controversy, with several commentators - including Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley - saying they expected a week or two more after the case was referred directly to the tribunal.
Ty Vickery's lawyer asked for the first half of Richmond's season to be counted as 'time served.' — Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily)
July 29, 2014
Vickery's suspension was reduced from five to four weeks because of his guilty plea and the 24-year-old will be free to play again in round 23 - and finals, in the event the Tigers make it to September.
Vickery issued an unreserved apology to Cox on Sunday morning.
