Three contentious free kicks, one crazy minute: The detailed verdict on preliminary final umpiring calls

The skills of the players in this intense, classic preliminary final between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions were the real highlight but when three free kicks are paid in the final 61 seconds and the lead changes those umpiring decisions will be examined and reviewed in fine detail.

Football writers Peter Ryan, Marc McGowan and former AFL grand final umpire “Razor” Ray Chamberlain took a close look at the final three free kicks to the Brisbane Lions and whether they were justified.

Peter Ryan says: The only query is whether a free kick would be paid in the first minute of a game, but beyond that, there is no doubt it was a free kick. The AFL clarified the rule after round two this season in a memo to clubs, which basically said a token effort to touch the ball before it went out of bounds would be insufficient intent. Mitch Lewis would have got away with it if he’d either grabbed the ball and momentum took him out or made a genuine attempt to keep the ball in play (which is difficult as he would have risked missing the ball). It’s a fair call. And remember Lewis hardly fumbled all match. His response to the decision was very professional.

Marc McGowan says: Lewis wasn’t trying to keep the ball in play. AFL headquarters made it clear early in the season that simply attempting to touch the ball to avoid a “lasso” free kick would no longer suffice, so as harsh as this seems, the umpire made the correct call.

Ray Chamberlain says: The action of Lewis is all that matters when it comes to insufficient intent, but for context, Jack Ginnivan kicks an end-over-end grubber along the boundary line. If it goes out of bounds without being touched it is a last-disposal free kick. Lewis has to show sufficient intent to keep the ball in play. Has the Lewis’ action demonstrated sufficient intent to keep the ball in play? No. The umpire made the correct call.

Peter Ryan says: Tiggy touch wood, but high contact was made and many of those are paid or not paid during a season depending on what the umpire sees. Josh Weddle’s arms made contact with Dayne Zorko above the shoulder, so it is a free kick.

Marc McGowan says: Glancing blow or not, it is crystal clear that Josh Weddle made high contact to Dayne Zorko while coming from the opposite direction as the veteran Lion spun around. Would there be any controversy if Zorko had done this to Weddle?

Ray Chamerlain says: There is certainly high contact. He is not decapitated by any stretch, but you can’t make high contact. He has flicked him across the face. It is going to get paid.

Peter Ryan says: Great decision by the umpire. When Jarman Impey takes possession of the ball, he has both arms free momentarily. It gives him a second where he could have handballed or kicked the ball, but he decided to do neither. Hugh McCluggage’s tackle was outstanding for the situation. After holding Impey for about a second around the waist, he then latched on to his hand, so the Hawks’ defender couldn’t handball either, making kicking Impey’s only option. The Hawk just froze and hoped the umpire would not be brave enough to pay holding the ball.