Hendo_21
Club Legend
- Aug 14, 2021
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- AFL Club
- GWS
GWS “privately seething” over late free kick as former star labels decision “ridiculous”
“It was at a crucial time of the game and it was a free kick for an action that we see dozens of times a game...”www.sen.com.au
The GWS Giants are “privately seething” at the crucial dissent free kick which swung the game late in their loss to Carlton on Saturday.
In an eventual 10-point win for the Blues, Jesse Motlop booted a goal at the 15-minute mark of the final term that had Carlton a point up. But the controversy that led to Motlop's goal has become the key talking point, with suggestions GWS was wrongly undone late in the game. Motlop was awarded the free kick directly infront 15 metres out for dissent against Stephen Coniglio, who raised his arms at a missed free kick in the play prior. Umpire audio released overnight suggests there was no ugly language from the former GWS skipper and was only penalised because of his action.
It’s a free kick at odds with the trend across the league, and given the timing of the score, SEN’s Tom Morris reports GWS are privately furious. “It was at a crucial time of the game and it was a free kick for an action that we see dozens of times a game and hundreds of time a round.” He added: “The umpire, via the audio from Fox Footy, makes it clear it's not what he says, it’s the fact his arms are out when we’ve learnt last year that players are allowed to extend their arms. We’re waiting on the AFL call here whether this was correct or not and I sense – without knowing for sure – that the AFL wants to back the umpires at all points, but this was an incorrect adjudication of what dissent actually is.” Arms out did warrant a free kick on a few occasions early last season, however the AFL privately softened the rule mid-year to bring the rule into more common sense areas.
Former Essendon star Scott Lucas believes it’s crystal clear to see the umpire made a blunder. “No, let’s be honest it’s ridiculous,” he responded when asked if Coniglio’s action constituted dissent. “He’s just wrong. I understand we need to be respectful to our officials, but there is a context to the game and the importance and the stakes. Understand that players will get emotional… it’s just too big a penalty.”
And when a Melbourne media personality who hates GWS agrees it's ridiculous ... you know it's crap!
Club angry over incorrect free-kick decision, is there really much of a story here?