Samcro24
Free the Cartel Colonel
- Oct 28, 2014
- 10,986
- 27,705
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
I think to the letter of the law play should have been stopped and the mark set. He gets a reprieve and any benefit of the doubt by virtue of not overstepping the mark. You're allowed to position your body to play on, be it by kick or handball. Its not play on until your called to play on, and play on should only be called once the player goes off the mark or disposes of the footy.
The instinctive “in the spirit of footy” call is to say bad luck, looks a lot like you were keen to continue play, went to kick with a player in the vicinity, took your chances, play on.
The fact that we have posters arguing either side shows how easy it is for an umpire to call it either way, even if they ultimately get it wrong (as they often do). They have to make the call on the spot without the luxury of replay. We've all watched it 50 times and with split interpretations.
The instinctive “in the spirit of footy” call is to say bad luck, looks a lot like you were keen to continue play, went to kick with a player in the vicinity, took your chances, play on.
The fact that we have posters arguing either side shows how easy it is for an umpire to call it either way, even if they ultimately get it wrong (as they often do). They have to make the call on the spot without the luxury of replay. We've all watched it 50 times and with split interpretations.