AFL
6 months ago
AFL umpire weighs in on the controversial Collingwood time wasting call
By SEN
The controversial umpiring call against Collingwood’s Lachie Sullivan in their Friday night draw with Fremantle has taken the footy world by storm.
Umpire Matt Nicholls called a ball-up 15 metres from the Fremantle goal with six minutes to play in the final term, and as Sullivan stood with the ball, he threw it to teammate Nick Daicos in the opposite direction to the umpire, resulting in a free kick to the Dockers and a goal.
The goal provided Fremantle with a run of momentum, en route to four straight goals to tie the game before the final siren.
The call was decisive in determining the result of the match, however Nicholls' decision was ultimately passed off as correct by the AFL.
For the first time since the call was made, a current umpire has taken to the media to explain the decision in full.
Umpire ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain joined SEN’s Whateley to explore Nicholls' call.
“Let’s say the umpire was standing next to Daicos", he said.
"If Sullivan threw the ball in that direction when the umpire is there and there-abouts, it would be highly unlikely that the umpire would have awarded a free kick.
“But in the Sullivan example, the umpire is behind him.
“A player is allowed to leave the ball on the ground, they don’t have to pick it up and give it to us, or they have to give it to us directly.
“What they can’t do, is throw it to a teammate, they can’t hook it under their arm and start pointing around and directing players.
“The players know. We have all been out to the clubs, this has been messaged multiple times since midway through 2022.
“We have had four examples this year where free kicks have been paid for this. It just wasn’t on a Friday night at that time, Collingwood… it has just had less attention from those sitting in media and fan-land.
“Sullivan in that instance is required to put the ball on the ground or give it directly to the umpire, he threw it to a teammate in the opposite direction of the umpire.
“Our umpires are an instrument of what comes from above, and we are given direct instruction of what we are to do.
“Matt Nicholls followed what he is meant to do. You don't have to like it.”
