THE AFL has admitted its umpires were wrong by not awarding Jack Ginnivan a high free kick in Collingwood’s dramatic win against Essendon.
But the league insists Ginnivan instigated the “initial” high contact from Bomber Mason Redman.
Ginnivan was tackled around the neck by Redman in the first quarter of Sunday’s heart stopper at the MCG, with experienced field umpire Matt Stevic calling play-on.
The incident, which came in the same week the AFL announced a crackdown on players who drop, shrug or lift their arm to draw high contact, further incited the debate around the tactic.
The AFL today released a statement, which read: "Ginnivan is responsible for the initial high contact however (Mason) Redman then continues with the tackle in an unreasonable manner, holding Ginnivan around the neck. In this instance a free kick should have been awarded to Ginnivan.
"Overall the umpires did a terrific job of officiating the high tackle interpretation in all games over the weekend.
"There are instances where, at full speed, in real time and at ground level, some decisions are extremely challenging to make and this one (Ginnivan) is an example of that."
Ginnivan, 19, has become the face of the hottest topic in football and widely vilified by rival fans after appearing in videos and podcasts saying it was “a great way to kick a goal”.
The league’s statement comes after some of Ginnivan’s teammates spoke out in support of their teenage teammate, with Taylor Adams declaring Redman’s tackle on the young Pie had “been a free kick for over 100 years”.
Mason Cox tweeted: “Wild to think high tackles were put in the game to protect players health and now are being blatantly ignored for a 19-year-old.
“How can we think “the AFL cares about concussions and head-high contact” after this.”
Collingwood’s 1990 premiership icon Tony Shaw labelled the umpires’ treatment of Ginnivan “disgraceful”.
Collingwood president Jeff Browne indicated over the weekend that the Pies would take up the issue with the AFL umpiring department.