Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge gifted Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood five goals, according to Matthew Lloyd.
Hipwood gave inexperienced Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner a torrid time kicking a season-best haul to fire the Lions to a 24-point victory in Saturday night's match at the Gabba.
Speaking on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Lloyd was critical of how Beveridge deployed Gardner who was recalled to the senior side for his first game since Round 2.
“He (Hipwood) has had a poor year, he’s only kicked multiple goals once,” the Essendon great said.
“(Luke) Beveridge gifted it (five goals) to him and I felt for Ryan Gardner. Unfortunately, I don’t think Ryan’s up to AFL footy at the moment.
“I just thought the matchup from Luke Beveridge was really poor, Hipwood has really struggled but he was holding him, he was dragging him – he (Gardner) was just out of his depth.
“I just thought he played him into form and he did the wrong thing by Ryan Gardner.”
Gardner, 23, was selected with the sixth pick overall by the Dogs in last year’s mid-season rookie draft.
The Bulldogs sit in ninth spot with a 5-6 record after 11 rounds.
"Beveridge gifted him."@matthewlloyd18 says Luke Beveridge's decision to play Ryan Gardner on Eric Hipwood virtually handed the Brisbane forward five goals.#9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/PvAgAX6blP
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 9, 2020