AFL umpires boss Hayden Kennedy has ticked off the Reece Conca decision and raised concerns some fans and commentators don’t fully understand the prior opportunity rule.
Conca was pinged in the tense final quarter on Saturday night for making no attempt to dispose of the ball, which prompted discussion by Channel Seven commentators and widespread condemnation on social media.
The critics of the decision said Conca had no prior opportunity before he was pinged for holding the ball.
But AFL rules state that if there’s no prior opportunity, the player must “genuinely attempt” to dispose of the ball, which Conca didn’t.
AFL rule 15.2.3 (b) states: “Where the field umpire is satisfied that a player in possession of the football ... has not had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the field umpire shall award a free kick against that player if, upon being correctly tackled, the player does not correctly dispose or genuinely attempt to correctly dispose of the football after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so.”
still the umps fault or perhaps dimwit and cunca dont understand the game, which wouldnt be a surprise.
