Sydney coach John Longmire says he won’t follow up on two costly 50m penalties in the Swans’ narrow loss to Hawthorn, but has questioned the game’s uneven free-kick count.
Longmire’s side coughed up two goals during Thursday night’s five-point defeat at the SCG after Kieren Jack and Ben McGlynn were penalised for entering the protected zone.
The close calls led to Jonathan O’Rourke scoring just before three-quarter time and Jonathon Ceglar slotting during a dramatic final quarter.
“I don’t know, ask the umpires, I really don’t know to be honest,” said Longmire, who won’t seek clarification from the AFL’s umpiring department.
“No, I won’t worry about it.
“I’ll worry about what I can control.”
The coach, however, also expressed concern over the game’s lopsided free-kick tally, which finished at 15-9 to the Hawks but had been more lopsided earlier.
“Obviously we were undisciplined because the free-kick count was 3-13 at three-quarter time,” Longmire said.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a differential like that for quite a while.
“We’ll have to get better at our discipline, clearly, because that’s a big differential.”
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson found the umpiring to be “pretty strong” but observed the obvious challenge with the 50m rule lay in the consistency of its interpretation.
Longmire was miffed to have come off second best in another close encounter, having lost by four points to the Western Bulldogs a fortnight ago.
In both games the Swans had a chance to go top, but could now end up as low as seventh by the end of this round.
But Longmire insisted it wouldn’t derail his side’s season.
“We win and we’re on top of the ladder, so I’m still pretty confident with the year we’ve got,” he said.
“We’ve made some giant steps forward and we’ve still got a fair bit of footy to play this year.”
Sydney will wait to learn the extent of Zak Jones’ ankle injury after the defender was carried from the field with a leg injury in the final term.
Albo
Guest
Yep ! They had enough opportunities to win the match ! But as is now becoming commonplace this year for the Swans, they are crumbling under the pressure moments .
Penster
Guest
If you look at the game instead of the stats, it becomes less so ...........
Jones
Guest
A sad little man.
Jones
Guest
I could say the same with Syney supporters. In general Hawthorn supporters are less rabid, feril, virulent, uncultivated, fervent than most!
Rod
Guest
Incorrect Wayno. Jack was in the 10 m zone when the free kick was applied and was running out of the zone....clearly not quickly enough for the umpire. Michael Christiansen has already called it an error. Smith moved into the zone. No error.
justinr
Guest
There's also a headline 'Umpiring Blunders Cost Hawks Dearly' -- but it exists in another universe to ours. 😉
Nik
Guest
Agreed. My experience with Hawks fans is that they are not really enjoying their win unless they are simultaneously sticking the boot in. While they may not be the majority, they are definitely the loud minority. It's put me off the entire club.
Don Freo
Guest
Very little pressure when handing out gift 50 metres. The game has stopped. ...unless you are referring to the pressure of phone calls after the game.
Don Freo
Guest
You weren't baffled? The only reason the game was close was because of the umpiring.
fairsuckofthesav
Guest
They certainly gifted you the 2012 prelim. Look up the stats on that one. The umpires apologised for their mistakes . Not anymore its heads in the sands stuff.
Ken
Guest
It is very difficult to believe a side can only give away 3 free kicks in 3 quarters...and then 6 in one quarter.
EddyJ
Guest
Which is a real pity, because the Hawthorn players are fantastic people, and very good players. The Hawthorn crowd (well, let's not generalise, it's not all, it's just a lousy minority) are poorly behaved, fanatical idiots. I was abused and pi**ed on outside the MCG by drunk Hawthorn supporters, after they'd had a big victory against the Blues – geeze, I wasn't even a Carlton supporter. Reports from the 2014 Grand Final are that the Hawthorn crowd was absolutely disgusting, racist, bigoted, vainglorious. The Hawthorn trolls are indicative of this behaviour, so it will be great to see their era end at some point. It's called shadenfruede. And to top it off, Jeff Kennett is their biggest supporter.
Angela
Guest
'Tactless' is very courteous indeed, Michael. I wouldn't be as kind. I'd say Terry's comment is typical of - well, I won't say 'all', that would be an exaggeration - a great number of Hawk supporters. My overwhelming experience has been one of being confronted by noisy, shouty, spiteful, infantile and in-your-face yellow and brown people at any Hawks match I've attended. Ghastly. Even when their team is winning and setting new benchmarks many of the yellow and brown crowd seem to have to put the boot in. Perhaps this is the sad result of endless victories. One wonders what they'll be like when, inevitably, the tide starts to turn. And, thanks for your thoughtful analysis of the Swan's game each week Michael. I look forward to reading what you have to say
Mango Jack
Guest
One of the more ridiculous aspects of this theory that umpires favour Hawthorn is that they would be the absolute last team the AFL would give a leg up to. Exciting as it would be for die hard Hawk fans, a 4th consecutive premiership is not what the game's administrators would want. Why on earth would they help them achieve this? There is no conspiracy, and there is no ingrained umpire bias.
EddyJ
Guest
I don't think Sydney have massive issues – only one bad loss against the Giants by 42 points. Other losses: 1 point after the siren against Richmond. 4 points in final two seconds against Western Bulldogs. 5 points against Hawthorn. 10 points against Adelaide – Adelaide always had the answers in that game, but still a close result. Also, don't forget that they did win against Brisbane by only 3 points. The story is probably one of inexperience, and poor decisions in the final moments. But, easy for us to say, we're in the stands, not on the ground. 11–5 and four close losses is not too bad a position to be in. The main story to come out of this is that is could cost Sydney a higher spot on the ladder. They could still end up anywhere between 1–8, but I'm guessing that it might be around 3 or 4. There's a possibility that there will be four teams on 17–5 (Sydney, GWS, Adelaide, Geelong, Western Bulldogs), so percentage is absolutely critical. West Coast possibly 16–6, Hawthorn will probably go 18–4, North Melbourne 14–8. But there's always upsets, so anything could happen in the final six and a half rounds. I hate doing the 'what ifs' and only a guess, but if Sydney were able to win against any of those three teams decided by less than a kick, they'd be top of the ladder after Round 22. But as it stands, they could be anywhere between 2 and 7.
Michael Huston
Guest
Sydney still over handball but I'm not even going to bother talking about it anymore. It's a staple of Sydney's game, it's clearly not going anywhere and we clearly have a few more costly issues.
Michael Huston
Guest
Not exactly sure what the point of your comment is. If you're a Hawthorn supporter, is it not a bit tactless to rub the result of a game in an opposition supporters face? You're first on the ladder, why the need?
Marshall
Guest
Got'im gone cleaned bowled great stuff Terry
EddyJ
Guest
So you know exactly how the results will fall this weekend? Please tell what your predictions are.
EddyJ
Guest
Agree with all that you've said here. Glad to hear that you've stopped complaining about Sydney's over reliance on handball. I think it was a terrible game, and for a team that played so poorly for 45 minutes, and only lose of 5 points, maybe there's just a slight silver lining for the Swans. I thought that if the Swans could win well last night, they would be premiership favourites, but it seems like they're lacking in experience and concentration. You can't just score 0.1 in a quarter and play so poorly against a team like Hawthorn and expect to win. I don't Hawthorn will win the flag this year – they will probably end up of top of the ladder and might it make to the Grand Final, but I think that Adelaide is the one to watch now. For Hawthorn, their ability to close down close games will run out at some point. After winning in 2012, 2013 and 2014 Preliminary Finals by less than a kick, and all the close matches this year, you can't eventually win them all, and eventually this will start to even out against them. Sure, experience counts, but everyone is looking at Hawthorn from the prism of 2012–2015, instead of looking at 2016 in isolation.