A FRUSTRATED Damien Hardwick has walked out on Thursday morning’s weekly press conference after becoming agitated over persistent questioning.

media_camera Damien Hardwick and Alex Rance. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hardwick grew tired after a reporter questioned the Richmond coach as to how ongoing speculation over the future of contracted players impacted clubs - and particularly the Tigers.

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Earlier, a fed-up Hardwick expressed his displeasure at recent media talk regarding contracted stars, calling on the AFL to ban clubs from talking about contracted players.

His call comes as the future of his star defender Alex Rance continues to be a hot topic.

Hardwick claimed talk by rival clubs about contracted players was “tampering” and he insisted the speculation needed stop after the latest report that Brisbane is preparing to make a big offer to Rance, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

“The NFL have a very good anti-tampering rule, we shouldn’t be here sitting talking about it at this stage,” Hardwick said.

“Other clubs shouldn’t be talking about Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane. It’s inappropriate. It’s something the AFL needs to act on because it creates an industry where it creates an easy media article to write.

“From our point of view there’s a trade period and a free agency period at the end of the year and that’s where all this should be taken care of.

“It’s just ridiculous. We’re talking about contracted players. We shouldn’t be able to make comment about wanting players to come to our footy club, it’s a tampering.”

When asked what way it impacted on the club Hardwick said “next question”. Channel 9 reporter Tony Jones continued to ask several times more before Hardwick ended the press conference saying “come on mate, give me a spell”.

AFL club footy managers have discussed the idea and it’s believed the AFL is considering the change.