Crows robbed again? AFL acknowledges incorrect Cats call

The AFL has confirmed that the decision not to pay a free kick against Tom Atkins and Geelong during the final quarter of their eight-point win over Adelaide was in fact the wrong call.

But the league has defended the role of the AFL Review Centre (ARC).

During their Thursday night clash against the Crows, Cats midfielder Atkins soccered the ball out of bounds.

With the AFL’s new last touch rules, this now means that a free kick should have been awarded to the Crows.

Instead, Geelong was awarded the free kick, then went forward and kicked a goal which helped them win the match.

In a statement, the AFL acknowledges that the call should have been overturned.

But with the ARC having no time to intervene, they was no opportunity to correct it in real time.

“The ball came back into play before the ARC had time to intervene on the last disposal free kick awarded to Geelong in the fourth quarter last night," read the league statement.

“If the ARC did intervene, the decision would have been overturned.

“The AFL will look at its late-in-game process and the ability to potentially hold play to get the correct outcome.”

It's yet another incident that has gone against the Crows in recent years.

We all remember the goal not given to Ben Keays against Sydney in late 2023 which cost them a finals spot.

Other anti-Crows calls include the

• the non free for Jordan Dawson in a two-point loss to Collingwood in Round 15, 2023,
• the free not paid against Sam Draper in a three-point loss to Essendon in Round 6, 2024
• the non mark/free kick to Izak Rankine in a one-point defeat against Gold Coast in Round 4, 2025.

The AFL conceded that all of these were errors.