St Kilda co-captain Jack Steele admits his side was fortuitous to receive a crucial free kick late in their Round 1 win over GWS.
Giants veteran Callan Ward was adjudged to have disposed of the ball incorrectly after being bumped by Saints forward Dan Butler while in the motion of kicking.
Umpire Eleni Glouftsis awarded Butler a free kick that resulted in the match-sealing goal with the Saints running out eight-point winners.
The AFL later ruled that the contentious free kick was incorrectly awarded.
“I personally didn’t think that it should have been a free kick,” star Saint Steele told Sportsday.
“It wasn’t a tackle, obviously.
“Callan Ward definitely had prior (opportunity) with the ball and didn’t dispose of it.
“I suppose at the end of the day it’s the umpire’s call and it’s whatever they see.
“There were a few 50-50 calls … some were right, and some were wrong.
"A lot of calls didn’t go our way on the weekend, so it could have been good karma coming back our way.”
St Kilda take on Melbourne in Spud’s Game at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.