Dane Rampe had a busy Friday night, being involved in two controversial incidents, and Essendon champion Tim Watson is not a fan of either.
The All-Australian defender at one stage got caught for holding the ball, but clearly didn’t hear the umpire calling him to play on.
Rampe then said to the umpire, “you talk like a little girl”, likely because he couldn’t hear him.
Watson believes that may be worthy of a fine.
“Yeah, that is disrespectful,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“I think he should get a please explain at the very least and maybe a fine for that.”
Rampe was also involved in a second incident on the siren, climbing the goal post to get a jump at David Myers’ kick for goal to win the game.
The umpire told Rampe to get down, rather than obeying the letter of the law and paying a free kick.
The AFL has since backed the decision, saying the umpire got it right. On top of that, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan labelled it “pretty practical” officiating.
Watson doesn’t understand why another grey area is being brought into the game.
“I think that somebody needs to pull their socks up over at the AFL for the explanation of that decision on Friday night, I really do,” he said.
“That was incorrect, that Rampe decision.
“It’s got nothing to do with Essendon, the rules are the rules. If we’re going to have rules, do we not? That was pretty clear cut, is it not?”
Former St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt agreed, saying the AFL is playing a dangerous game by allowing for umpire discretion.
“When we start hearing that we want umpires to provide practicality and common sense to decision, that is a really dangerous situation and anarchy will ensue,” Riewoldt said.
“All umpires are going to have a different interpretation of what is practical and what is common sense so you’re going to get different decisions from umpire to umpire.”
Sydney would go on to beat the Bombers by five points at the SCG.