It was the contentious moment that led to Luke Breust’s match-winning goal for Hawthorn.
With just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and scores level, James Sicily drew a downfield free kick after Tom Green bumped into the Hawks skipper after he kicked it inside 50.
Sicily instantly appealed to the umpire, who awarded the free kick as Green argued the decision, with the Launceston crowd left in shock.
And in another twist, Luke Bruest was instead awarded the ball for a shot on goal instead of a closer Mabior Chol – a decision the league has ticked off.
Contentious free results in Hawks dagger | 00:44
Speaking post-game, Giants coach Adam Kingsley was unable to dive too deep into the matter, given his lack of vision at the time on the incident.
“I didn’t see the free kick, so I can’t really comment on whether it was a free kick or not – I mean he’s (Tom Green) desperate to try and stop a score, so things happen when you’re desperate to do that,” Kingsley said.
“It didn’t go our way today; it is what it is, so we move on.”
Opposition coach Sam Mitchell gave his take on the interpretation, cutting them slack given recent rule changes.
“I was a bit worried that (Sicily) had missed the (kick); any score would’ve been great at that moment, so I’ll let the umpires (be), they’ve got a tough job – particularly at the moment,” Mitchell said.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s coverage during and post-match, Hawks champion Dermott Brereton analysed the way Sicily played the contact.
“Watch James throw the arms up in the air and deliberately allow himself to land heavy on the ground. He’s played that so cleverly,” Dermott Brereton said.
It gave Breust a set shot from the boundary line, which he snapped truly for the match-sealing goal in a key moment.
But was there enough contact from Green to pay the decision in such a crucial stage? You sense there will be some debate.
Brereton believes under the current more conservative rules, the free kick was there.
“(Sicily) got the kick away cleanly and (Green) does bang him. In this day and age, it probably is (a free kick),” he said.
Saints great Nick Dal Santo cheekily added: “If Derm says it’s a free kick, it’s a free kick because he doesn’t believe any free kicks are free kicks.”
The Hawks will look to continue their winning streak against Richmond next Saturday evening against Richmond, while the Giants are desperate to turn around recent form against Port Adelaide at home next Sunday.