'Every day of the week': Umpire 'froze' in free kick controversy that swung Pies-Lions prelim
Updated . First published
In a defining moment late in Saturday's preliminary final, Collingwood star Jamie Elliott was denied a clear front-on free kick against Brandon Starcevich that could have put the Pies a goal down with nine minutes remaining.
Instead, the ball was raced down the other end and in a two-goal swing, Charlie Cameron put Brisbane 18 points up.
The Lions would run away with it from there to book their spot in the grand final, but the controversial non-call might have changed the entire momentum of the final quarter.
READ MORE: External noise not going to interfere with Ange's plan
READ MORE: Why star didn't want to talk too much about 'sad' ending
READ MORE: Icon's extraordinary Brownlow record that could be broken
Starcevich collides with Elliott. Fox Footy
Veteran AFL reporter Damian Barrett said he isn't expecting the league to clarify the decision, calling out the blatant umpiring error.
"They've paid this free kick all year to Jamie Elliott in those circumstances. People can argue what they want and they can say Starcevich made contact with the ball, and he did, but I can't recall another moment like that this year that hasn't been paid to the player going for the mark," Barrett told Nine's Footy Classified.
"You can spin this all you like and I don't care what they attempt to say, but that had to be paid."
Adelaide great Rory Sloane however isn't as certain that Starcevich infringed.
"What was he supposed to do in that situation?" Sloane said.
"Watching it live I was like that is 100 per cent a free kick, but slowing it down, he hit the ball, there wasn't much body contact, his eyes are on the ball. I just don't know what he's supposed to do in that situation."
The umpire "froze", according to David King in commentary for Fox Footy.
"That's a free kick every day of the week," he said.
Speaking post-match, Magpies coach Craig McRae refused to blame their defeat on the controversial call.
"Losers make excuses. We're winners. We didn't win today. I think they would've beaten us anyway, the way they were playing," he said.
Jamie Elliott up in arms during the preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions. Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Hugh McCluggage lifted the Lions with a stunning performance, finishing with a goal, 37 disposals and 10 clearances.
Down the other end, Elliott starred for the Magpies with four goals.
It was a chaotic start as Nick Daicos won the first clearance and hit Mason Cox with a perfect pass, only for the American to drop a sitter for the game's first goal.
Scott Pendlebury was also subbed out just minutes into the game with a tight calf.
Cox quickly redeemed himself, earning a free kick against Dayne Zorko and scoring the opener, following it up with some heated words for his opponent.
The Lions, however, responded with four straight goals from Josh Dunkley, Zac Bailey, Logan Morris and Ty Gallop, giving them a 20-point lead at the first break.
The Pies mounted a powerful comeback in the second term.
Elliott and Tim Membrey started the fightback with two quick goals, and the momentum continued as Lachie Schultz, Patrick Lipinski and Dan Houston all hit the scoreboard.
After holding the Lions scoreless for most of the second term, the Magpies' surge of six unanswered goals saw them flip the game on its head and take a 14-point lead into half-time.
In yet another swing of momentum, the Lions kicked four unanswered goals to start the second half.
Zac Bailey and Ty Gallop each snagged their second for the match, with Cam Rayner and Will Ashcroft also hitting the scoreboard as Brisbane reclaimed the lead.
Ty Gallop celebrates a goal for the Lions. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Elliott pulled off a massive hanger in the goal square for his second goal of the game, before kicking his third moments later to bring the Pies within a goal.
Ashcroft launched a goal off the turf from a stoppage, adding his second.
The goal was the Lions' fourth from a forward-50 stoppage for the match — a tactic that prevented the Pies from running away with things.
Rayner also kicked his second, helping Brisbane to a 12-point lead at three-quarter time.
In a moment of high drama, Cox was awarded his second goal after a lengthy score review.
The soft call of a goal was confirmed after the ARC looked at every possible angle, judging that Cox's boot had touched the ball just after that of Harris Andrews.
"That's the desperation that is required," Jason Dunstall said in commentary for Fox Footy.
The Lions finished just as they started, with a dominant run of four straight goals to book their place in a third-straight grand final.
The final score was Brisbane 15.10 (100) to Collingwood 11.5 (71).
