Blues midfielder Jack Newnes booted a goal after the siren to lift his side to victory over Fremantle, but the umpires made a mistake in awarding him the kick.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir reckons Carlton players pulled the wool over the umpire’s eyes during the controversial finish to Saturday night’s match – but he doesn’t feel hard done by.
The Dockers suffered a heart-breaking four-point loss when Blues midfielder Jack Newnes nailed a 45m set shot from the boundary line after the final siren, lifting Carlton to the 5.10 (40) to 5.6 (36) victory at Optus Stadium.
A series of controversial decisions led to the match-winning goal – and Fremantle were on the wrong side of all of them.
Arguably the biggest talking point was the fact that it should have been Michael Gibbons – not Newnes – who was awarded the final shot on goal.
With just 16 seconds remaining, Dockers forward Matt Taberner was pinned for deliberate out-of-bounds – a decision that looked correct.
Sam Docherty quickly played on but his kick inside 50m sailed out on the full.
However, the Blues were awarded a down-the-field free-kick given that Docherty was bowled over by Andrew Brayshaw during a failed smother attempt from the Fremantle midfielder – a decision that immediately sparked debate.
Gibbons was clearly the closest player to the ball when it sailed out on the field.
But the umpires were somehow convinced that it was Newnes who had been closest.
Longmuir was well aware of the mistake, but he copped the decision on the chin.
“Every team would have tried to do the same thing, and they probably pulled one over the umpire’s eyes,” Longmuir said.
“But that’s alright. That’s footy. We’ll take it, cop it on the chin, move on and get better.
“I think they did a pretty good job of getting the right player the ball. But I would have been asking our players to do exactly the same thing in the same situation. So the result is done, it’s in the book.”
Carlton coach David Teague was happy the ball was in Newnes’ hands.
“He’s a really straight kick, which I like, especially when it’s a bit wet and slippery, you don’t really want to be kicking around corners,” Teague said.
“I just sat there and enjoyed it. That kick changes four points for our football club.”
But he also said Gibbons would have been a good option.
“He likes having those shots at training and kicks them quite regularly, so I would have been quite comfortable if he had that kick as well,” Teague said.
Longmuir didn’t feel Brayshaw did anything wrong in his smothering attempt on Docherty that led to the relayed free-kick.
“From what I saw, Andy Brayshaw goes to smother and makes contact,” Longmuir said.
“If the same situation arose again, I’d ask Andy Brayshaw to put frontal pressure on and try to smother the ball. That’s where I sit with it.”
Keltoons
Roar Rookie
I think the time has come, as a club, to stand up and draw a line in the sand when it comes to the contentious umpiring decisions the Fremantle Dockers club has had to 'suck up' and live with. Malthouse did this for the West Coast team when he first took the helm and the attitude of the AFL towards the west aussie team changed. The Dockers need to do the same and as member for 15 years and a supporter since day one I feel this is long overdue. With the new faces in the club and the great selection of talented players we have it is time we took control of the tempo of games and shake the foundations of the AFL on field as well as off field! Time to 'draw the line in the sand' and say "no more!" to being treated like a second rate team!
End of the day
Guest
Fremantle folks need to be thankful they are allowed to play in our league. They are starting to grate and become like a nuisance house guest. Just remember who built this league!
The Better Team Won
Guest
Carlton accepted their after the siren loss a few weeks back and Fremantle must also now. That's the joy and pain of the sport. What frustrates me as a football fan is the constant chipping around in front of goal and noone wanting to pull the trigger. And we wonder why scores are so low today. Just take the shot, take responsibility for missing.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Haha.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
The closest player always takes the kick, the umpires usually make sure of that. You can’t get a bloke from 200 metres away to take the kick. With the Conca & Ryan ones....I think in both instances the umpire said they were pushed in the back as they kicked, so no down the ground. The down the ground to Carlton was really harsh at best. One thing I was really peeved with & no one has picked up on, was the umpire kept trying to get Newnes to come around, getting the camera man to move so Newnes could get on the correct angle. The camera man finally moved & Newnes didn’t. One around, just moved some cable, and the umpire did nothing making the angle was slightly easier. Capped off a few woeful minutes by the umps. But a great kick.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Casboult pushed Lobb in the back for his first goal from the boundary throw in. Cottrell's goal was from a two handed throw by Cripps. Eddie kicked it out on the full on the boundary in the last minute, not paid. When Conca took a mark and it was "not 15", he was pushed in the back. No free. When he was pushed in the back later and the kick was brought back, the Carlton player punched the ball over the boundary before it was returned. An obvious 50 metre penalty not given. 3 of Carlton's goals were umpire errors. Only one of Freo's was questionable...and Frederick was going to kick it anyway. Tabs' mark was all body, no hands when he outmarked Weitering for that goal. The one you complain about with Lobb, you don't realise it fell to Frederick 15 metres out with no defenders near him. If it wasn't brought back to Lobb it was a goal to Frederick. The staggering thing, however, is that Carlton's captain, when the game needed to be won, kicked it out on the full. There was no free there at all. As the ump advisor, McInerney said, "I wouldn't have paid it."
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Not only lost Ducks but got pulverised!
Duckworth-Lewis
Guest
As a Richmond fan I have traditionally hated Carlton but they have been down for so long that I long for the days of the old Richmond-Carlton rivalry. I am like you now, as I have no hatred for them either. Melbourne on the other hand...that’s another story. I was upset you guys lost to that rabble.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I couldn’t care less on the Carlton Freo result Ducks, just thought it was an appalling decision when I watched it this morning. I never watched the game. Blues and Freo are doing ok. I hold no hatred for the Blues, maybe when they start contending again I will, who knows.
Duckworth-Lewis
Guest
Because Carlton won and Collingwood lost. Isn’t that every Collingwood supporters nightmare?
Simoc
Guest
He's also done that kick in 100% similar circumstances after the siren at Subiaco Oval to win a game so would know exactly the feeling.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ducks, why would I be salty over a Carlton Freo game?
Nick
Roar Guru
"The historically significant site" Jeez, Lis, even your dreams are square.
Gary
Roar Rookie
I think Eagles will be pretty pumped to get payback for their disastrous loss to Hawks at home last season. But, 3 of my tips where thrashed this round...
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
And I thought I was dropping 50 places.
Guest
Guest
quesque c'est?
Gary
Roar Rookie
Me too... and that almost didn't happen.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
2 out of 5, and when WC go down!!!!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Same here man, same here. Brisbane the only one I’ve got so far.