Port Adelaide’s thrilling 14-point victory over Carlton wasn’t without controversy, as some late umpiring drama again reared its head in the AFL world.
Power forward Darcy Byrne-Jones threw his boot at a loose ball in the goal square, proving to be the match-winner once more after his heroics earlier in the season against Hawthorn.
The ball made contact with the goal umpire before crossing the line, but the ARC ruled that it would have gone through for a goal regardless, awarding Byrne-Jones the goal after a lengthy score review.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >“I reckon that’s the right call, but it’s probably a game-ending call,” Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw said.
But the rest of the AFL wasn’t as convinced. “That’s bullshit. The ball didn’t cross the line,” Fox Footy expert Dermott Brereton told AFL Nation.
“Goal umpires positioning themselves inside the field of play would have to be amongst the stupidest things in footy,” journalist Daniel Cherny tweeted.
Journalist Daniel Renfrey posted on X: “The look on the goal umpire’s face was priceless.”
Port Adelaide ran out 14-point victors to launch themselves into third place on the AFL ladder, only behind Carlton on percentage.
Source Agencies
