Richmond defender Dylan Grimes has received death threats on social media after a controversial incident in his AFL club’s latest victory.

Grimes was accused by some of staging for a free kick which proved a game-turning moment during the Dreamtime clash when the Tigers scored a 12-point win over Essendon in Darwin.

“Death threats and suicide suggestions. Come on,” Grimes posted on his Instagram account.

“Reminding the Essendon fans that inboxed me that this is a game we play for fun.”

Grimes was awarded a controversial free kick for a push in the back in the second quarter of Saturday night’s game.

The penalty came as Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti took a run into an open goal – his major would have put the Bombers 11 points up.

Instead, the score wasn’t allowed and Richmond proceeded to boot two goals in the next three minutes to take the lead, which they kept for the rest of the game.

“Massive impact,” Essendon coach John Worsfold said post-match of the controversial decision..

“Unfortunately that is the way the umpires called it and we have to cop that. But it was a pretty critical part of the game.”

Grimes’ threats come two weeks after GWS stalwart Callan Ward also received death threats and abuse when accused of staging for a free kick, also in a match against Essendon.

Ward effectively kicked the match-winning goal being awarded a free kick for high contact against Essendon’s Shaun McKernan.

Essendon issued a statement after the Ward abuse condemning the threats.

“As a club, we do not stand for this and we will continue to call out this toxic online behaviour,” the statement said.