The AFL has ticked off the controversial finish to Saturday’s Fremantle v North Melbourne game at Optus Stadium.
With the final margin just one point as the Kangaroos ended 73-72 winners, plenty of conjecture has surrounded the game’s final seconds as many feel the Dockers should have received a free kick inside 50 for deliberate out of bounds.
The incident in question came as North Melbourne’s Daniel Howe kicked the ball from the goal square into space in Fremantle’s forward 50, with the ball bouncing out of bounds as the clock read zero seconds left.
The AFL has since released a statement and umpire audio of the decision, saying the call was correct not to pay the free kick as they deemed the siren had rung out before the ball officially left the field of play.
“The AFL has reviewed the final passage of play in the Fremantle v North Melbourne match at Optus Stadium yesterday,” the statement read.
“The final siren sounded before the ball goes out of play.
“The umpire’s decision on the ground was correct.”
While the AFL were adamant the correct decision was made, Channel Nine’s Tony Jones wasn’t so sure after reviewing the footage alongside Damian Barrett and Kane Cornes on the Sunday Footy Show.
Barrett: “The ball was kicked, umpires hear the siren, the ball goes out of bounds, that’s the AFL’s version of it but I’d imagine there’d be some Fremantle fans who may think the order of events may have been their way leaning.
“That would have resulted in a potential free kick after the siren to potentially level the scores (or win the game).”
Jones: “I’m not invested either way with these clubs but I think the AFL is completely wrong, I think the siren sounded after the ball went out of bounds.”
Barrett: “I don’t think you’re alone on that.”
Jones: “The ball goes out and then the siren sounds, who is looking at these things at the AFL?”
Barrett: “It is absolute lineball, isn’t it?”
Jones: “No, I don’t think it is.”
Barrett: “You are adamant that should have been paid as a free-kick?”
Jones: “Yes.”
Cornes: “There’s a thought that the AFL just tick off every decision.
“Very rarely do they come out and say it’s wrong.”
Was the correct decision made? Watch the footage below to make your assessment.
The AFL has released ARC vision from the last passage of play between Fremantle and North Melbourne.#AFLFreoNorth pic.twitter.com/NtaFZ8MX31
— AFL (@AFL) March 25, 2023
Photo: AFL