In other round 13 match news, the AFL's refereeing department has agreed with Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick that the crucial free kick awarded to Mac Andrew was “unjustified”.
But umpires boss Steve McBurney says the free-kick against West Coast star Elliot Yeo and the handling of the tumultuous final Hawthorn-GWS game were correct.
Controversial refereeing decisions marked the end of Saturday's three close games.
Andrew and St Kilda coach opponent Max King were battling late in the game at Marvel Stadium when a holding free was paid against the Suns defender. King kicked the field goal and the Saints won a low-scoring game by three points.
Max King of the Saints is tackled by Mac Andrew of the Suns.Credit: AFL photos
Andrew was furious when the free was paid, and Hardwick also had to hold his tongue in the post-match press conference.
“We totally understand why he paid for it,” McBurney said of the free throw. “We don't see, with the benefit of all the additional angles we get, that this is the right outcome for the amount of contact that occurs between both players.”
McBurney also emphasized that it was not classified as a major or critical bug.
“It's a judgment call … we have full confidence in this referee,” he said. “Absolutely, he will not be abandoned by a decision like this.”
Yeo was unlucky late in West Coast's nine-point loss to North Melbourne, first hitting the ball with his strong tackle on George Wardlaw.
There was no previous chance, meaning no free was awarded, but then Yeo found himself on the ball and didn't clear it before Jy Simpkin took it on.
In this case, there is no prior chance and McBurney said the free against Yeo for holding the ball was the right call.
Simpkin then kicked a crucial final goal to put the Kangaroos in front.
“He (Yeo) is immediately tackled by Jy Simpkin and the rules require that if you dip the ball or drag it back, you have to clear it immediately,” McBurney said.
“The tackle is effective and that's why we say that catching the ball is the right result. Reasonable time does not apply to the second inning, it does to the first and the ball is thrown immediately.
“The reasonable time clarification has no application to what the referee penalized Yeo in this case.”
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The AFL issued a rare mid-season edict a few days ago about a reasonable time to make decisions on the ball, following growing confusion over what constitutes a free kick.
McBurney again pointed out that a free should have been paid against Sam Draper earlier this season for a similar incident late in Essendon's win over Adelaide when the ruckman was on the ground on the ball and be attacked
The umpires boss also said correct calls were made when Hawthorn captain James Sicily was hit after his kick in the final minute of the Hawks' six-point win over the Giants on Saturday.
The shot went wide and the 'free after disposal' paid off for Hawthorn in the front pocket.
McBurney acknowledged that Mabior Chol was possibly closer to that point than Luke Breust, who fired home the winning goal from a sharp angle, but said it had been the referee's call.
Speaking to the media on Sunday afternoon, McBurney said the referees and the clubs involved had been informed of the refereeing department's review verdicts earlier in the day.
AAP
