SEN’s Gerard Whateley has slammed several umpiring decisions late in Sunday’s Adelaide versus Collingwood clash at the Adelaide Oval.
While the Magpies eventually got over the line in a thriller by just one point, they were forced to not only overcome the Crows but some umpiring calls that Whateley described as “totally unacceptable”.
Looking at the stats, Adelaide won the free-kick count 28-18 but it was several non-decisions which weren’t awarded to Collingwood that have caused a stir.
Whateley pointed to three moments in particular that were horrific calls from the umpire - Nathan Murphy not receiving a high-contact free kick after being collected by Darcy Fogarty in a marking contest, Jordan De Goey being penalised for insufficient intent as Murphy came off with blood pouring from his nose and Ash Johnson being dragged down on the goal line by Jordon Butts clearly above the shoulder.
What a courageous act from Murphy that didn't get rewarded.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 30, 2023
Should this have been a free kick?
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De Goey was not happy about this deliberate out-of-bounds call!
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 30, 2023
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“Imagine what snap judgments would have been like today had Collingwood not won,” Whateley said on SEN Mornings.
“Because as well as the fog descending on Adelaide, the fog descended upon the umpires in a manner that is so rare.
“I am so reticent on a Monday morning when people want to zero in, all they can see is the umpiring, but there was just some woeful decision making with the game on the line.
“The Murphy scenario was absurd that the free kick wasn't paid and then he's going off under the blood rule … and the they pay an insufficient intent against De Goey.
“And then I just couldn't believe that Ash Johnson one on the goal line.
“He's dragged down over the shoulder, which is just 100 times out of 100 (a free kick).
“That umpire looked at it, saw it and decided not to blow the whistle.
“That's just totally unacceptable.”
Given all of those moments came late in the last quarter, Whateley says the umpiring was “alarmingly terrible” with the game at fever pitch.
“I'm not an umpire basher, but when the game - just as we could be critical of Adelaide and what they did - they just froze up, those umpires,” Whateley said.
“It was terrible, alarmingly terrible. The umpires … they were paralyzed,
“They have to better than that in the really obvious moments.
“These weren't the marginal ones.”
Luckily for the umpires perhaps, the Magpies ran out 59-58 winners in a win that saw them claim top spot on the ladder with a 6-1 record through seven rounds.