Richmond vs Geelong AFL Finals 2017: ‘Disgusting’ error scars matchJames Matthey
Herald-Sun
9 September 2017ONE of the biggest talking points to emerge from Richmond’s momentous win over Geelong in Friday night’s qualifying final was a sour moment from late in the first term.
AFL greats voiced their unhappiness after one umpire denied Richmond’s Bachar Houli a goal when he snapped from inside forward 50, instead handing Geelong a free kick because he ruled Houli’s teammate Jack Riewoldt bent the rules.
Riewoldt was deemed to have illegally pushed a defender out of the way in the goal square as the Sherrin bounced through the big sticks, even though the Tigers forward’s eyes were on the ball the whole time.
To make matters worse he was then pinged with a 50m free kick when he encroached upon the mark while trying to smother the resulting drop punt.
Swans premiership coach Paul Roos said the Tigers forward didn’t deserve to be penalised, AFL legend Jason Dunstall said “the Tigers were stiff, no free kick” and Brisbane great Jonathan Brown was fuming at what he believes was a poor decision.
“No free kick, the umpires were here a few weeks ago and they told us the cue is whether the player has his eyes on the man or on the ball,” Brown said on Fox Footy.
“Jack Riewoldt clearly had his eyes on the ball there, that is play on. It’s incidental contact, it’s play on, that is a goal.”
Host of Channel Seven’s AFL program The Front Bar Andy Maher was equally as outraged at the free kick.
But Richmond didn’t let the controversial call rattle it, surging to a 13.13 (91) to 5.10 (40) victory on the back of a rampaging Dustin Martin.
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