‘Run the risk’: Smith’s costly brain fade in one-point loss
Geelong superstar Bailey Smith gave away a costly free kick 80 metres away from the ball before his side’s late comeback fell short against Adelaide.
In a clash filled with controversy, the Crows held a narrow lead at three-quarter time before racing clear and surviving a late scare to win 11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74).
Taylor Walker celebrates a goal for the Crows. Getty
But it was the fiery moment involving Smith and James Peatling late in the third term that had many up in arms.
After being dragged to the ground in a hard tackle, Smith got up fuming and it ended up in a multi-man scuffle, with the Cats star getting his guernsey torn.
As the ball was kicked to the other end of Adelaide Oval, the 25-year-old dragged at Peatling’s shirt and tossed him back to the turf.
The on-field umpire blew a free kick against Smith for the off-ball incident.
“He’s given away a free kick from 80 metres away,” David King said on Fox Footy.
“Peatling was annoying him and it went forever ... he just rips him to the ground.
“If you pull a player to ground, you run the risk of having the umpire call it.”
Bailey Smith tugs at James Peatling's jersey Fox Footy
Despite the call going in favour of his former team, Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto couldn’t believe Smith was penalised for the stoush.
“There’s nothing in it,” he said.
“Umpires have got to be better than that. You can’t be giving free kicks for that. Do we want blokes doing that and getting free kicks? I don’t think so.”
It wasn’t the only contentious moment in a dramatic Thursday night fixture.
Geelong veteran Tom Stewart found himself in hot water for a bump on Callum Ah Chee that could draw the attention of the match review officer.
“I thought I got him right in the middle. I hope I didn’t get him high,” he told Seven at half time. “My intent was never to get him high ... I’m pretty sure I didn’t.”
There was also a nasty incident involving Crows skipper Jordan Dawson, who was levelled after teammate Taylor Walker pushed a rival player into him.
Dawson leapt above the pack but was collected by Connor O’Sullivan, who only made contact with the airborne Crows player due to Walker’s push.
Jordan Dawson is collected in a brutal collision. Getty
“That’s a big hit. It’s an absolute no-no pushing players,” King said on commentary.
“You’re not allowed to push players into the traffic like that. Tex is in some bother.
“Not a lot in it … but you don’t have to do a lot in that instance.”
Adelaide held on in the dying stages to entrench themselves in the top-eight, while the Cats could slip outside the four by the end of the round.
