The AFL’s interpretation of an umpire’s call to not reward North Melbourne with a 50-metre penalty in the dying stages of their match against Collingwood has led to Fox Footy experts taking aim at both the league and the response of its General Manager.
In reaction to outcry on the incident in question, the AFL’s Laura Kane spoke to its in-house media on Monday to deem the umpire’s verdict to not award Kangaroos player Bailey Scott with a 50-metre penalty as correct; despite Scott being charged at by not one, but two opposition Magpies players within the protected area and over the mark.
Kane instead referenced the umpire’s decision to not deem the incident as ‘play-on’ after Scott ran off his mark as the actual error; therefore, seemingly clearing any scrutiny by the league on the non-decision that followed.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, journalists Gerald Whateley and Mark Robinson were vehemently against the response from Kane and its body, labelling it as “codswallop” among several other terms.
“That is an instantly recognisable and automatic 50 metre penalty every, single time it happens,” a fired-up Whateley said, before throwing to co-panellist Robinson.
“Everyone knows that, except Laura Kane and the AFL,” begun Robinson.
“This is going to sound disrespectful – and I don’t want it to be disrespectful – but how can Laura possibly put that explanation out, and think that the football public will say ‘Yeah, nah fine – fully agree, that’s understandable’.
“That’s codswallop, the football public is being treated like children, absolute children.
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“We knew the rules, we knew it at the time, and to come out 24 hours later – or whatever the bloody time it is – and to say to the millions of football supporters in this country ‘No, there’s a bit of confusion but we’re sort of comfortable with it’ is rubbish – that is a rubbish call.
“At no stage in the history of the game and in the future of the game, can players assume that a player has played on. That explanation doesn’t, doesn’t cut it.”
Within hours of the league’s response to the incident on AFL.com.au, the uproar has been unlike any seen since Ben Keays’ infamous ‘point’ kicked last year against Sydney when the league’s goal review system came under fire.
And Whateley was quick to point out just how obvious it was in real-time that the umpires, and subsequently the competition’s spokespeople, got it so, so wrong.
“It was so easily recognised in the moment that it happened; it does no one any favours to find a way to justify that and not register it as an error,” Whateley added.
“It does nothing to help us have faith in the way that the game is being umpired if we’re going to search for little technicalities and isolation to justify a decision.”
In a broader concern on the officiating of the game, Robinson delved into players disguising throws as handballs – another act that caught the eye of viewers on Sunday afternoon multiple times.
“Sorry, I got a bit excited there, it just does my head in – and I’m not an umpire … when did we start allowing the shovel (action of handballing)?!” Robinson continued.
“It’s so hard to adjudicate this game at the moment; there’s so many layers.
“The AFL is allowed to say they’re wrong; just say ‘Hey, we got it wrong on the weekend’ – take us along, don’t treat us like we’re fools, and that’s what I think is happening at the moment.
“It’s not Laura Kane’s fault the umpiring and the public (are clashing) … we’ve got a situation where something has to be done, and I’ve never spoken about it (umpiring) like this in 14 years sitting next to you (Whateley) – but I think it’s gotten to a critical point.”
Robinson’s solution? He credited an idea of former Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade on how the competition could benefit from being transparent, as well as being open to public feedback.
“Rodney Eade had an answer – let’s get some key people together and say to the umpires: ‘What is the most difficult part of our game to umpire, and let’s all work around that’” Robinson relayed.
Earlier on Monday afternoon, Foxfooty.com.au contacted the AFL for further clarification on their explanation, and were referred to its in-house media platform.