The only difference with the scenario you describe and what happened is Witts was already running when he pointed. So I can see the confusion. But Jordan Lewis on the couch said exactly the same as you which I agree with completely. You can't encroach on the mark and haven't been able to...
The exact same thing (but resulted in the opposite occurring) happened against Essendon. Stand! clear out! and 3 hawthorn players cleared out leaving no one to stand. Nash got pinged and fifty resulted.
I think 6:30 is a wonderful time to start sending a text. So that by the time 8:30 comes around I will have finished sending said text and the intended recipient can receive it.