'Truly disgraceful': AFL world erupts over baffling new rules controversy
AFL players and fans have been left scratching their heads once again over a bizarre 50m penalty awarded in Richmond’s clash with Port Adelaide.
Port’s Justin Westhoff was pinged for 50m on Saturday after he spoiled the ball whilst already out of bounds, sending it flying into the crowd.
Umpire Ray Chamberlain decided Westhoff had deliberately punched the ball away after Richmond had earned a free kick for out of bounds on the full.
Westhoff was mere centimetres over the boundary line when he punched the ball and couldn’t have known it was already out.
But Razor Ray pinged him anyway, leaving the AFL world gobsmacked.
Anger over ‘ridiculous’ decision
Former Hawthorn star Brad Sewell said the call was “ridiculous.”
“He was trying to keep the ball in, it was over by half an inch,” Sewell said on ABC Grandstand Radio.
“That’s a ridiculous one.”
Essendon defender Michael Hurley led the outcry on social media.
“Can someone please explain what rule Westhoff broke?” he tweeted.
“How was that a 50m penalty?”
Can someone please explain what rule Westhoff broke? How was that a 50m penalty? #AFLTigersPower
— Michael Hurley (@mickhurley18) July 20, 2019
A truly disgraceful call (my PAFC bias aside), a momentum swinger, totally self-centred umpiring that should be called out as such by AFL House — but won’t be #afltigerspower https://t.co/vInWyxinWE
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) July 20, 2019
That is a soft 50 against Westhoff. You can’t pay that #AFLTigersPower
— Lee Gaskin (@Lee_Gaskin1) July 20, 2019
Wow, that's an ordinary 50. Westhoff was trying to touch the ball before it went over the line, in absolutely no way was he time-wasting. #AFLTigersPower
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 20, 2019
Over officiating at its best! Westhoff spoils a ball less than a metre over the boundary and a 50m penalty which gifts a goal. Just stop over umpiring please! #AFLTigersPower
— TomRehn9 (@tomrehn9) July 20, 2019
The worst 50 ever awarded #Westhoff #stiff #cmonRay #AFLTigersPowers
— Tim Hodges (@timmyhodges) July 20, 2019
Sorry Razor that’s a horrible call. Westhoff trying to save that ball from going out on the full
— Julian de Stoop (@JDESTOOP80_FOX) July 20, 2019
Tigers cruise to fourth-straight win
Richmond are coming for the AFL's top four and Port Adelaide's finals hopes hang in the balance after the Tigers cruised to a 38-point win at the MCG.
Saturday's 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) victory extends the Tigers' winning streak to four games and lifts them to outright fifth on the ladder.
The Tigers led throughout and were never seriously troubled by a Port side that sorely missed injured co-captain Ollie Wines.
At a time when the whips are cracking for the finals contenders, everything looks to be coming together for the 2017 premiers.
Dustin Martin and Dion Prestia (30 disposals and a goal each) starred in the midfield, Tom Lynch (three majors) was again among the Tigers' best and Dylan Grimes (eight marks) anchored a superb backline performance.
Lynch, who underwent knee surgery during the off-season, has built slowly in his first season for the Tigers but now has 12 goals from his past four games.
with AAP