When Tom Lynch took a hanger on Kyle Hartigan’s head in the second quarter of tonight’s clash between Richmond and Adelaide, Twitter nearly exploded.
Lynch’s knee collects Hartigan in the head, causing him to come from the ground groggily.
The mark was paid as it has been for 100 years and play continued on.
However, it’s drawn comparisons to the decision to pay a free kick against Jeremy Howe on Monday, where the Collingwood defender put his foot into the back of Tom McDonald.
A free kick was paid against Howe for the decision, with the AFL citing that he used his studs in “a manner likely to cause injury”.
Obviously, a knee to the temple is probably just as likely to cause an injury, as social media was quick to point out.
Is that a free kick against lynch for that grab cause he had the potential to injure him with a knee to the head?
— Dane Swan (@swandane) June 13, 2019
Tom Lynch mark where he drives the knee into the back of the head only about 17,000 times more dangerous than a Jeremy Howe footy boot in the back.
— John Clark (@JohnnyClark83) June 13, 2019
This is why the Howe/McDonald free kick last week is ridiculous . Lynch almost knocks out Hartigan with a knee and it’s paid rightfullly as a great mark. Howe puts foot on McDonald’s back and free kick! Ridiculous #AFLCrowsTigers
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) June 13, 2019
Can't wait to see an umpire pay a free kick for what Lynch just did..... #AFLCrowsTigers
— Nathan SⓂ️ith (@nathanjsmith194) June 13, 2019
So you can’t put a foot in someone’s back but you can sink a knee into someone’s head? That’s AFL for ya #AFLCrowsTigers
— Johno (@johno_ET) June 13, 2019
Lynch hurt a player taking a high mark - ban the speccy! #AFLCrowsTigers
— William H. Averchuck (@Will_Haverchuck) June 13, 2019