“Technically should have been a holding the ball free kick”: AFL’s admission on Draper non-decision

The AFL has admitted that Taylor Walker should have been given a free kick after the siren to win the game for Adelaide, stating the decision made was “technically” incorrect.

Debate has raged following the Crows’ two-point loss, with Matthew Nicks’ side again on the wrong side of the umpire's whistle late in the game.

Essendon’s Sam Draper dived on the footy in the dying seconds and was given the benefit of the doubt by the umpire.

But in hindsight, the league has clarified that it should have been a free kick, although it was a “very challenging one for the umpires in this situation”.

“In the moment and at ground level, the Umpires believed that Draper dived on the ball, and then the ball came out to Draper’s left, and was then knocked back under him by Walker,” a statement reads.

“In review, and with the assistance of the broadcast angle and behind the goals Hawkeye vision providing a clearer look, you can see that the ball moves from under Drapers chest - to under his armpit/shoulder – which means the ball is still in his possession, and he has not immediately knocked it clear.

“Therefore, it technically should have been a holding the ball free kick. It’s a very challenging one for the umpires in this situation, with the ball on the ground, to see exactly where the ball is, under a large number of players and who has control of it. On ground level they were not certain of all these factors, so they didn’t pay it - which is the correct approach at the time.”

The non-call leaves Adelaide floundering at 1-5, although Essendon dominated in all major categories of the game.

More to come.