Dermott Brereton has unloaded on the state of the game in reference to its umpiring and match review processes in an emotional plea to AFL House.
Conceding “they won’t like this” when referencing CEO-elect Andrew Dillon and umpiring boss Dan Richardson – who Brereton says are both friends – the former Hawk teed off on a number of umpiring calls from the final minutes of Richmond’s come-from-behind win over Sydney.
Brereton called out several instances where he believes players didn’t make a genuine attempt to dispose of the footy in the dying minutes, while also highlighting the umpire taking too long to blow the whistle.
As he notes, Toby Nankervis was able to walk out of a tackle in the last quarter that Hayden McLean had let go of. With the crackdown on protecting the Head, McLean didn’t take the Richmond ruckman to ground but was penalised for it.
And Brereton is having none of it in calling for change from the top.
Listen to his editorial below.