All North Melbourne needed from Mason Wood at the end of their AFL game was that he did precisely nothing.
The anti-climactic finish to their seven-point win over St Kilda on Sunday shone an uncomfortable light on the shot clock that the AFL brought in for this season.
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson admitted to mixed emotions about the finish after North held on to win 11.16 (82) to 11.9 (75).
With less than a minute left, North led by one point when Wood won a free kick and a shot on goal for his tackle on Jack Newnes.
This season the AFL introduced the 30-second clock on the scoreboard so everyone knew how long a player had for a set shot at goal.
Once the North runner told Wood there were only 22 seconds left until the final siren, he simply stood and watched the seconds tick down.
As Saints fans howled their disapproval, he then kicked an impressive goal from a tight angle on the final siren.
“Was it a good look? I’m not sure, don’t know,” Richardson said.
“But given the rules and given the circumstances, I thought he (Wood) did a really good job.
“It was very well done, given they’re the rules.
“If that had been one of our players, I would have thought ‘gee, great composure young man’.”
Richardson also admitted there was much frustration in the Saints coaches’ box, calling it the longest 30 seconds they have been through.
Saints fans were already fuming after a controversial free kick two minutes earlier.
The free against Tom Hickey for a ruck infringement meant Todd Goldstein could have a 50m shot at goal.
It went wide, but crucially the behind put the Kangaroos in front.
North Melbourne had led by a game-high 26 points early in the last quarter and the match looked over.
But the Saints had a four-goal run that almost allowed them to snatch an improbable win.
Instead, the Kangaroos remain the only unbeaten team after seven rounds.
“We did what we had to do today,” North coach Brad Scott said.
Evergreen Saints captain Nick Riewoldt was best afield with 16 marks and three goals.
Midfielders Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington again starred for North, while their tagger Ben Jacobs shut out Jack Steven.
Kangaroos star Daniel Wells was off for most of the last quarter with a leg injury, but he came on for the last few minutes and had two crucial smothers.
Scott said Wells was determined to help the side win to mark Drew Petrie’s 300-game milestone.
Penster
Guest
Nothing to see here. No different to players safe kicking the ball around "keep things off" style until the siren goes.
Perry Bridge
Guest
That is something we see with some players going back 30 metres for a long drawn out approach (means there's a fairly large '10 metre exclusion bubble'). As a born defender I still find it annoying that the full back gets hurried up - even though the clock has stopped - while the forward gets 30 seconds (plus).
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree, that is far more consistent. Should be 30 seconds to kick the ball, play on as soon as the clock reaches that point. Perry - sorry, but I have to say that's not a good option, having inconsistent rules is a nightmare to officiate and will only lead to uncertainty. If it's 30 seconds, it's 30 seconds, and that needs to be the rule regardless of whether it's the first quarter or last quarter.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
No need to 'fix' what ain't broken. Introduce a variable time based on set of variables and I promise you we'll soon have an umpire giving a player the wrong amount of time. The only thing I hate is that the clock stops once the run up is started. It should go until the ball is kicked. If you don't kick before 30 seconds its play on immediately. I'm waiting for the day a player walks back to the centre circle and starts his run up with 2 seconds on the clock, then burns another 60-90 seconds off the clock slowing walking/stutter stepping towards the mark readying to kick.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Goldy's point was the ugliest since the 1966 GF.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I would suggest on this - the milking the clock - what the 30 seconds seems important for is the guy working hard to get a mark and is sucking in the deep ones and needs the first 15 seconds just to get settled. The rule was introduced back in 2005 for the 2006 season. However - what perhaps needs to be allowed for is where time on has been called. Even as a North fan - time on had been called and you could justifiably argue that Wood was perfectly settled and a 15 second shot clock might have been called. Ironically kicking to the other end Riewoldt had earlier ticked down the seconds - from outside the 50 setting for a long kick and instead of attacking the goal mouth went for a pass. Perhaps the obligation should be - if in taking more than 10 seconds (whereby you are well in advance of what players get 'around the ground') that you must attack the goals otherwise forfeit the ball.
Perry Bridge
Guest
A lot of ruck frees do get missed - but then again - the third man up seems to have the absolute right to jump up and land knees in the kidneys of Ruckmen from the blindside. Hickey ironically gave away several frees when grabbing the ball out of the ruck - he let his rucking ego get in the way of just playing properly for the team - he'll learn. The rules are not generally composed by ruckmen themselves - seems half the problem. Remember it was Mat Primus who was a master at moving in early and taking the run of the opposing ruckman (pushing the spirit of the line across the centre circle) - since then this 2 motion look first and then step into the space has been illegal and that's what Hickey did. Ruck rules have been aimed at a jumping contest ever since Peter Moore and Gary Dempsey repeatedly wrestled themselves to the ground in the finals back in 1979.
D Fitz
Guest
Thank you Stephen and Andrew. I stand corrected. However it seems a lot of ruck frees are missed.
andrew
Guest
what were the other dubious free kicks ? i thought out of bounds on the full was about the most clear cut free kick there is going around. it landed atleast 2m over the line. or are you suggesting the holding the ball that led to the mason wood free. this was also a very clear cut free. understanable why the saints player had to take a risk in that situation, and risk getting caught holding the ball. but he had prior opportunity, got tackled and did not dispose of the ball with either a kick or a handball (the only two legitimate methods of disposal). you can moan about the goldstien free. technically there, hickey did take his eyes of the ball to block goldstien. personally, id let it go. if you pay that you have to pay them all, some might say, and you end up with 100 frees a match. as is normal, we focus just on on the one decision/non-decision. there was a clear push in the back to waite that missed about 1 min prior. im sure if the saints did win, we would all be talking about the missed free to waite, but of course, this gets lost in the wash up and hysteria. waite would have sealed the match with that free and no one would have complained. the reality is, when you are behind all match and are 28 pts down 10min into last quarter, you need 100% of things to go your way to edge over the line. the saints got it about 95% right. the saints did not get the ball past the wing in the final 2mins of the match. 3 yrs ago north woudl have panicked and lost that match. but they are now more mature and composed. this is the level of maturity, compsure, experience the saints currently have. they are a good side and will learn from it. not just the last 2 mins, but why they found themselves in such a position 10mins into the last quarter.
Stephen
Guest
If you are referring to the Free paid to Golstein as a dubious one. I suggest that you read AFL Rules 15.4.5 Clause (f). For a really good explanation go to http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=132. When Hickey took his eyes off the ball and put his focus on blocking Goldstein, he infringed. That is the rule.
D Fitz
Guest
Unfortunately the umpires gifted this game to the Roos with two dubious free kicks at the end of the match. Also I say running down the shot clock is not an attractive sight for neutral spectators. Players don't in every case need thirty seconds to shoot for goal.
Casper
Guest
Can't blame the players for using it, but there is nothing good about it. Can't the umpires just look at watches and then tell the player he must take his kick.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Much ado about nothing. Just smart play.
Stephen
Guest
Seems to me that a lot is being made about running down the clock for this particular shot at goal BUT, watch the game........players were taking up their full allocation of time for the entire game. Smart play, yes, but only doing what any professional athlete should do. He composed himself, got his breath back and drilled it and yes he was fully aware that he was putting the result beyond doubt. Who would have one of their own not do EXACTLY the same thing in the same circumstance?