Not FC but Mike has mentioned the same thing about the Swans 19 men on the field. Further proof journos get their ideas from the internet 
. In this case BF.---------------------------------
Interchange fiasco costs dearly
Mike Sheahan | August 26, 2008 12:00am
THE AFL's refusal to take the tough decision on the interchange fiasco of Round 6 has come back to haunt football's governing body.
Had it rightly awarded North Melbourne the four points from the game against Sydney that ended in a farcical draw in April, the fight for last place in the final eight still would be alive.
The AFL, though, upheld the draw despite irrefutable proof Sydney had 19 players in the field of play for about 30 seconds in the last quarter, in which time the Swans scored the behind that tied the scores.
The result stood and Sydney was fined $50,000, half of which was suspended.
In different circumstances, Richmond, ninth, now would be two points behind Sydney, eighth, with one round to play.
A Sydney loss to the Brisbane Lions and a Richmond win against Melbourne at the weekend would have seen the Tigers move into the eight at Sydney's expense, and into the finals.
Yes, it was an innocent mistake on the Sydney bench in Round 6, yet perhaps the gravest mistake of all in a team sport - one team with more players than another.
Nothing, of course, can be done now, but it is clearly another case of what might have been with more decisive action on an unexpected dilemma.
While the Roos would have been two points better off, the extra points would not have affected their position.
They would be no more secure in fourth place because their percentage is inferior to the three teams immediately below them.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24241541-19742,00.html
