The AFL has backed the controversial call that decided North Melbourne’s one-point win over Fremantle in Perth, saying the umpires were right.
The league has released video of the frenetic last few seconds in Saturday night’s match at Optus Stadium.
North defender Daniel Howe cleared the ball out of defence with a long kick and just as the ball was going out of bounds, the final siren sounded.
As Fremantle players and fans appealed for a deliberate out of bounds free kick, the umpires immediately ruled that the siren had sounded before the ball had crossed the boundary line.
There was less than one second in it.
If the Dockers had been awarded the free, they would have had a shot on goal from about 45m on the boundary to win the game.
“The final siren sounded before the ball goes out of play. The umpire’s decision on the ground was correct,” the league said in a statement.
The AFL’s video included audio from the umpires.
“The siren went before (the ball went out of bounds), that’s the call we make,” one umpire is heard saying.
Dockers players then appealed to the umpires for a free, but the decision stood.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said post-match he trusted the umpire “got it right”.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure on the rules. You know what, I trust the umpire got it right,” Longmuir said.
Fremantle have been tipped widely to make the finals again this season, but are winless are two rounds, while the Kangaroos under Alastair Clarkson are unexpectedly 2-0.
Fremantle were also involved in Sirengate, the 2006 controversy at the end of their round-five match against St Kilda in Launceston.
The umpires failed to hear the final siren and the Saints then kicked a point to draw the game.
The league investigated and, after a four-hour hearing a few days later, ruled that Fremantle should be awarded the win.
It was only the second time in VFL/AFL history that the score and result of a match were changed on protest.
RT
Roar Rookie
Ouch!
RT
Roar Rookie
Also, if a player gets a fingertip on it, it will be called "touched-behind" but if they pubch it through it is rushed but the score doesn't count.
RT
Roar Rookie
Yes, but if they kick a behind, the opposition doesn't get to then kick it in.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but if Tabs didn't spend 5 minutes lining up for another shot on goal and just kicked the ball...
Nick
Roar Rookie
You're right PtS. It is an anomaly that needs correcting. It should be that the ball is still live after the siren unless touched or has cross either the boundary or goal line.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Irrelevant what the time clock says. What is relevant is the sounding the siren. The umpires got it right, but your reasoning is way off.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
He’s going to be a ripper. Your also correct, tactical forward play has been our problem forever.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
They can stop or punch the ball but they can’t get a free kick or mark and then take a kick that counts. Call it a deliberate out of bounds if you like, but no one gets to take a kick so what’s the point ?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pete, then why do backs stop the ball going through on kicks after the siren? Even if it’s bounced ?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Yes that was weird. It did turn out to be a reviewed score I suppose?
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
More controversial was disallowing Tabs goal in the first quarter. Mark was paid, he kicks the goal, then they score-review the mark? Surely you can only score-review the score, not the mark?
PeteB
Roar Rookie
That’s an equivalent of someone claiming a mark after the siren because a player upfield had kicked it before the siren. It’s never worked like that.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yes that is a win however I’m with the umps on this one it would be extremely contentious to call that free kick the wording of deliberate leaves a lot for the officiating umpire to interpet
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I don’t get this. If a team are dead level 3 seconds to go and a player launches from the square, siren blows as the ball rolls toward goal, ball trickles over the line from a kick taken in play, isn’t that a win?
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
2 goals in final in his first year. How long it take Reiwouldt just to play in one. Freo's problems are tactical.
WCE
Roar Rookie
There wouldn't be any whinging if Freo won
Lukey Miller
Roar Rookie
The Time Clock was clearly on 00:00 well before the ball crossed the boundar line. So, regardless of the decision on when the siren actually sounded, it would have been unfair to award a free for deliberate out of bounds. Freo should not complain on this decision, time was up. If the free was awarded to Freo and they had won, then that would have been unfair.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Yep I’ll take Samson Ryan, Tyler Young, Balta any day. But Tigers have no youngsters coming through :shocked:
Realist
Roar Rookie
I think Don should change the guy’s nickname from Nev to Went!
Ando7369
Roar Rookie
The only thing amiss is Fremantle whole team