With the Giants main by 5 factors with 11 minutes left within the sport, Blues ahead Corey Durdin kicked a behind. But simply after the ball crossed the road, Coniglio questioned a non-holding the ball free kick name – and appeared to place his arms out whereas doing so.
A free kick for umpire dissent was then paid towards the Giants from the highest of the goalsquare, which is the place Coniglio had questioned the non-call.
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“It’s not holding the (ball) … Dissent. All clear (behind) and dissent, so it’s going to be a Carlton free kick here,” umpire Craig Fleer is heard saying on his microphone.
Consequently for the Giants, Blues ahead Jesse Motlop calmly slotted the most important to present Carlton the lead. In essence, it was a seven-point play.
After Motlop’s objective, umpire Fleer was heard and seen explaining the choice to pay a free kick towards Coniglio to Giants teammate Lachie Whitfield.
“It’s not what he said – it wasn’t you (Whitfield), it was Steve Coniglio,” Fleer mentioned.
“There was a decision not paid, so the ball had gone through (for a behind) and he (Coniglio) has gone ‘how is that not a free kick?’ – with his arm out.
Whitfield replied: “And that’s worth another goal?”
“That’s dissent,” Fleer mentioned.
The Giants wouldn’t kick one other objective for the sport, with Blues star Charlie Curnow booting his third main late within the quarter to seal a 10-point victory for Carlton.
Legendary Hawthorn goalkicker Jason Dunstall mentioned he was shocked by the dissent free kick name, however understood the precept.
“That’s big. I would’ve thought if there was some serious abuse yes, but just for throwing the arms out and saying ‘how is that not a free kick?’ That to me is a very heavy penalty to pay,” Dunstall instructed Fox Footy.
“He didn’t even throw them right out … He put them out in front of him. It’s tough.
“I understand where we’re trying to get to with respect to umpires and I completely agree with it … but common sense.
“When you’re trying to change behaviour or a particular action, you’ve got shoot a few to get it done – and someone’s got to pay the penalty before it sinks in and there is no dissent.
“What it does do is put the players on notice.”
Five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon added: “That is extraordinary … That is taking it way too far.
“That’s not worth a goal.”
Fans and commentators watching the sport had a blended response to the calls.
It comes after weeks of controversy final yr round umpire dissent, which was introduced into sharp focus to assist enhance the remedy of the whistleblowers given the decline in numbers at native and junior ranges. Multiple gamers had been pinged in highly-debated incidents final yr, both for pointing to the scoreboard or placing their arms out.
After listening to the trade between Whitfield and Fleer, Lyon instructed Fox Footy: “This is not bashing the umpires. This is just talking through a situation where he says: ‘Is that worth of a goal?’
“I think we have changed behaviours. It’s got a hell of a lot better and in the process it’s got to the stage now where there’s got to be a bit of give and take in this. The umpire to the letter of the law explained it really well … maybe they turn around and say in hindsight, we go over to Stephen Coniglio and say: ‘Listen mate, we know what we’re trying to do here. Let’s not go down that path.’
“I don’t reckon when the game is in the balance, we should be picking off a free kick in the goalsquare.”
But Bulldogs video games record-holder Brad Johnson mentioned he agreed with the umpire’s determination.
“I actually thought it was the right call, because I don’t think he was just like ‘I don’t think that’s a free kick ump’ … there was a bit more (aggression),” Johnson instructed Fox Footy.
“I know the umpire explained it in a calm way to Lachie Whitfield, but there was a bit more on it and it was a bit shorter as well.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown added: “When this pops up, some would go: ‘Come on umpire, late in the game, understand the game scenario.’ But the rules are rules and you need to keep composed in those situations.
“So Steve Coniglio, he’s a leader in that team, it cost them the victory.”
Originally printed as ‘That’s price one other objective?’: Debate over controversial umpire dissent name in GWS loss
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
