Matt White's 23rd-minute shot on goal in the last term appeared likely to either bounce through or hit the post.
Instead, it crashed into the legs of the goal umpire and back into play. Fremantle's Stephen Hill picked the ball up and walked it through for a rushed behind, reducing the home side's lead to one point.
But Hardwick was adamant the ball had actually crossed the line and should have been a goal.
The AFL's video review system should have been used, he said.
"I know it went through for a goal," he said.
"It crossed the line. Have you see the replay? Maybe we should have called a review, you would have thought. No? Seriously, in a tight game? Joke.
"There is a system in place. Use it, or don't bother."
While White kicked a goal to give his side the lead just three minutes later, Fremantle replied through Hayden Ballantyne and held on to win by a solitary point.
Hardwick wouldn't comment on suggestions that players should have the right to call for a video review.
"At the end of the day there's a field umpire, a goal umpire, and four or five blokes sitting up in a box upstairs," he said.
"Someone make a decision."
Lyon agreed with Hardwick that White’s shot “looked like a goal”.
"I thought there was a review process in place,” he said.
“At the end of the day we’re all humans, we all make mistakes.
"Damien is entitled to voice an opinion, but I’ll leave it to the papers and the AFL to sort it out.
"I've been there. I saw Damien on the way out of the box. I said 'I feel for you because we've been there'. It's a cruel game."
Hardwick said he was pleased with the efforts of former Adelaide forward Chris Knights and key forward Tyrone Vickery, each of whom booted three goals.
Jake King, who was replaced in the selected side by Robin Nahas, was suffering from a back injury and would likely be available next week.
Tigers fans would have been excused for being concerned when Trent Cotchin limped from the field late in the second quarter, but Hardwick said his skipper had simply hyper-extended his right knee.
"I think it's OK," he said.
"He came back on and played on, so he'll be fine."
