Full Breakdown
Three Contentious Free Kicks Define the Closing Minute of the AFL Preliminary Final
By Drooid · · How we work
The Controversial Final-Minute Calls
In the preliminary final between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions, three free kicks were awarded in the last 61 seconds, each altering the lead. The first, with 62 seconds remaining, was given to Brisbane after Mitch Lewis was judged to have shown insufficient intent to keep the ball in play. The second, at 53 seconds, awarded a free kick to Dayne Zorko after Josh Weddle’s arms made contact above the shoulder. The third involved Jarman Impey, whose possession was deemed a holding-the-ball infringement after a brief tackle by Hugh McCluggage.
Expert Assessment of the Decisions
Former grand-final umpire Ray Chamberlain, football writers Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan all concluded that the umpire’s calls were correct. Chamberlain emphasized that Lewis’s action alone determines insufficient intent, and that the rule clarified earlier in the season requires more than a token touch to avoid a free kick. Ryan and McGowan agreed that Weddle’s high contact with Zorko met the criteria for a free kick, describing the contact as clear and above the shoulder. Regarding Impey, Ryan highlighted the four-second window between possession and the decision, noting that Impey had both arms free but chose not to dispose of the ball, while McGowan praised McCluggage’s tackle as legal and argued that Impey’s feigned disposal attempts would not have succeeded. Chamberlain added that the law requires a clear lack of prior opportunity before a holding-the-ball free kick can be called.
Additional Non-Calls That Shaped the Finish
The analysis also noted several non-calls that favored Hawthorn. No infringements were recorded on Jacks, Ginnivan and Gunston in the dying minutes. Notably, a forward-50 mark by Lewis with three and a half minutes left, a shove by Gunston on Harris Andrews that prevented a contest, and a handball by Ginnivan after Harry Morrison’s turnover were all left unpenalized, according to the commentators.
Impact on the Match Outcome
The three free kicks directly contributed to Brisbane’s lead change in the final minute, while the uncalled incidents potentially denied Hawthorn scoring opportunities. The experts’ consensus that the umpire’s decisions were correct underscores the fine margins that can decide high-stakes AFL matches.