DAMIEN Hardwick has fired back at those who criticised Alex Rance for staging on Saturday night, and has demanded there be consistency in umpiring incidents like it.

Rance was fined $1000 for staging for a free kick in the third quarter of the Tigers' win over Essendon, which prompted plenty of commentary on Sunday and Monday.

Kane Cornes called it "the worst free kick of the year" and called for Rance to be sanctioned, and also told SEN the four-time All Australian had to "have a serious think about what he's doing and the legacy he wants to leave". 

Wayne Carey told Triple M that Rance's action "puts a stain on his career".

Hardwick launched a spirited defence of Rance on Tuesday, essentially saying people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

"We're always trying to bring a champion down and that's what I thought this was," Hardwick said.

"As long as we've set the standard now, I'll find five of those free kicks a game that are over-exaggerated free kicks.

"I was really disappointed in the commentary. He's a champion of the game and I don't think we need to be saying it's a stain on his career.

"I found that really disappointing, and I think there will be a lot of people embarrassed by the commentary if we go back and look at their career."

When pressed on the comments by Cornes, Hardwick paused before responding; "I'm going to leave my comments as it is."

And, when asked if there was anything Rance needed to work on within his game in relation to staging, he replied; "No, he's fine."

Rance declined to speak to reporters when approached at Punt Road on Monday.

Meanwhile, Hardwick said Daniel Rioli wouldn't be a walk-up start for Friday night's clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval after coming off a five-day break from his third VFL appearance.

Rioli's GPS recordings have suggested he's back to his energetic and pressure-filled best, but it appears likely he'll be held back for at least another week.

"He's borderline at this stage, he's 50-50," Hardwick said.

"It's a five-day break so it's really tough. The draw has probably cursed him a little bit there.

"He's certainly be in the frame for selection but he's a really important long-term player for us, so we've just got to be careful we give him his best chance to play at his best in his first game back."

Fellow forward Jason Castagna has missed the last two games after hyperextending his knee against North Melbourne in round eight.

He played the following week against West Coast with a heavily strapped leg, but hasn't appeared at any level since.

"He's probable. He's just got to pass one more training session on Wednesday and he'll probably be more likely ready to go," Hardwick said.

Dion Prestia has "turned a corner" in his recovery from a calf injury but is likely to be sidelined – with Bachar Houli (groin) – until after the Tigers' round 14 bye.

Hardwick said it could be a blessing in disguise that players like Prestia and Houli have missed out on recent game time, as it could set up their back halves of the season.

He also conceded there was a selection squeeze on at Richmond, with the form of the senior side making it hard for players usually deserving of promotion from the VFL to break in.

"Guys have been unlucky previously, you look at Brandon Ellis as a guy who went out of the side, Sam Lloyd as well who has been playing some very good football but was a little bit unlucky to go out of the side," he said.

"That's probably the position we're in. We're really fortunate we've got some fantastic players playing some great footy at the lower level.

"Anthony Miles is consistently in the best getting 40-odd touches and I can't get him into the side.

"We're in a really good spot."

Young forward prospect Mabior Chol will miss up to two months after surgery to repair the foot he broke at training last week.