AFL greats have questioned a controversial dissent call that potentially cost the Giants the game in the loss to Carlton.
Giants star Stephen Coniglio was penalised for umpire dissent when he appealed for a non-holding the ball free kick, when Blues forward Corey Durdin kicked a behind.
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With the Giants leading by five points with 11 minutes remaining, the umpire awarded a free kick against Coniglio and GWS, from the top of the goal square, where the offence took place.
Blues forward Jesse Motlop calmly slotted the major to give Carlton the lead, which capped off a seven-point swing.
The umpire was heard explaining the decision to pay a free kick against Coniglio to Giants teammate Lachie Whitfield.
“It’s not what he said – it wasn’t you (Whitfield), it was Steve Coniglio,” umpire Craig Fleer said.
“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 said.
Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall was surprised by the call:
“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 said on Fox Sports.
“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.
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“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.”
While greats of the game expressed dismay over the call, coaches for both sides were a bit more diplomatic.
“It’s hard for me to comment really because I don’t know what was said,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said.
“Clearly we don’t want to be giving away free kicks in front of goal – that’s for sure.
“We’ll try to get to the bottom of it.”
Blues coach Michael Voss also pleaded ignorance.
“Because I’m on the interchange now, it’s a bit harder to see what it was and I haven’t seen that replay back,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure what it was for.”
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