A controversial decision just before the end of the first half of the Richmond Tigers’ Dreamtime at the ‘G clash with the Essendon Bombers has sparked outcry.
With half a minute left on the clock, Richmond’s Jayden Short was deemed to have deliberately rushed the ball behind, with the umpire saying the defender had done so without being “under immediate pressure”, leading to an Essendon goal.
However, many believed Short had been under pressure, with Essendon forward Josh Green hot on his heels.
The moment is the latest in a long line of controversial decisions surrounding the new interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds and rushed behind rules.
The decision did not prove too costly for the Tigers however, after they rallied in the second half to down the Bombers by 15 points.
Ditto
Guest
Don't think the ump has a choice in making any other decision than the one he made, unless you believe implied pressure is the same as actual pressure, then you'd be asking the umpire to read minds. Still I think that the rule should be defined by what you can and can't do rather than degrees of pressure.
Cat
Roar Guru
He didn't make any attempt at all to keep it in. Deliberate as it gets.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
I disagree Joe. If you watch from the start both Short and Green are basically next to each other and probably only heads Green by a couple of metres before Green starts to slow down. The only way Short would know that he might have had a chance of picking up the ball and clearing it would be if he slowed down himself to look behind him.
Cat
Roar Guru
Correct call.
Joe
Guest
I'm no fan of the umpires but thought this was correct call