Veteran umpire Ray Chamberlain believes the Tom Papley decision late in last weekend’s Preliminary Final at the SCG was correct.
The Sydney forward was involved in a flashpoint in the fourth quarter of his side’s eventual one-point win which involved Collingwood pair Darcy Moore and Isaac Quaynor.
With the ball in the air, Papley held his ground on Moore, extended his arms into his side and back, before juggling the ball while under pressure from Quaynor who clipped him high with a spoil attempt.
With no call made against Papley, he went back and duly kicked a vital goal which put the Swans up by 20 points with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Many have questioned the decision not to award Moore with a push in the back free kick but Chamberlain says umpire Simon Meredith made the right call overall.
“There’s lots at play. Position is really important, the umpire will either be outside play up against the fence depending on the transition of the football, or they’ll be inside,” Chamberlain said on SEN’s Whateley.
“In this specific example they were inside and it is very interesting with this example because they get one look at it, one view.
“I love Papley’s first contact. Regardless of what side, I think we can all acknowledge first contact, forward craft, sets his feet, holds position, (contact) is in the side. All that is fine and legal.
“I’ve had to watch this about a dozen times. When I first saw it I thought, ‘That looks in the back’. That was my gut instinct.
“The more I watch it, the more I go, ‘I think it’s a really great call’. The first contact is legal and fine, and I feel like they tangle and Moore loses his footing. He kind of crumbles. Not soaking up a free, he legitimately falls forward.
“Then there’s a secondary action from Papley which is a pushing action. Much like the guy who comes over the top (Quaynor), I don’t think he makes high contact, and if it is it’s so grazing.
“I felt the same with the extended arm. I don’t think he makes any meaningful contact at all to the back of Moore.
“Then, did he mark it? I think he does.
“I thought it was a really challenging call and I think our umpire pulled a great rein having watched it 15 times on replay.”
Gerard Whateley asked about the overall philosophy on the hands in the back rule.
He said: “So we have moved from the basic hands in the back which would have been a straight-up free kick?”
Chamberlain added that he believes the specific rule could use some restructuring.
“That’s been gone now for years,” he added.
“I don’t think we need these mandated hands in the back rules, I’m glad that’s gone, but I do feel it is an area that requires revisiting.
“We had a period of time about three years ago where we walked away from paying these frees, it was more erring towards to play on and let them sort it out.
“It’s a personal view - I think that’s an area we can sharpen up and I think the game should look to address that, but that’s not for me to call on.”
The third of Papley’s three goals was crucial in sending the Swans to the 2022 Grand Final.
A decision the other way would have denied him a shot on goal, perhaps leading to a very different result.