‘Huge error’: AFL world reacts to Josh Daicos’ 50m penalty against Lions
A 50m penalty “more like the length of NYC’s Fifth Avenue” shocked the AFL world during the Pies’ clash with Brisbane.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A 50 metre penalty handed out to Josh Daicos in Collingwood’s 52-point belting of the Lions on Thursday night has left fans and commentators alike bewildered.
The Pies emphatically snapped the reigning premiers’ unbeaten start to the year and joined them on 5-1 for the season via their impressive 16.9 (105) to 7.11 (53) victory.
But a highly dubious umpiring moment late in the first quarter of the heavyweight clash at the Gabba proved one of the game’s biggest talking points.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
With the Pies leading by just three points at the time, Daicos was awarded a 50m penalty on a halfback flank after a Zac Bailey infringement.
It came just after Bailey was pinged for running too far, but worse was to come as the 50 metre penalty quickly became much, much longer.
Daicos and the umpires just kept on running, to the point the new man on the mark was well inside his own defensive 50m arc and the Collingwood star was having a shot on goal.
Watch the incident in the video player above
Remarkably, Daicos was about to be handed another 50m penalty for another Lion failing to retreat behind the mark, but that was at least spared as the winger had already slammed the shot through for a goal.
AFL legend Leigh Matthews was one of the first to spot the hugely generous 50m on Fox Footy.
“That’s a decent penalty I reckon,” Matthews said. “A good 50, he’ll be kicking from just inside the 50m line.
“The second man on the mark was going to be penalised as well.”
The halftime crew on Fox Footy then debated the move, led by former North Melbourne champion David King.
King asked Jason Dunstall, Leigh Montagna and Sarah Jones how long they felt the actual free kick ended up being.
“I just want to get your assessment and I think the umpires have been very lenient with a 50m penalty,” King began.
“Clearly it’s not 50, it’s more than 50.”
Their answers ranged from 68 to 71 metres before a Fox Footy graphic listed the free kick as 77.2 metres, a massive and blatantly incorrect assessment of a supposed Olympic swimming pool length coming in a crucial moment of the match.
“Let’s get the exact metreage because you’re all well under,” King revealed.
“This is massive, this is a huge error and given Collingwood a set shot at goal which ended up being a double 50.
“He’s still going, he’s still going, 77.2 metres. That’s a huge penalty.”
Dunstall added diplomatically: “They’ve had a good run with the umps in the first half.
“But that’s the rub of the green. That happens.”
Fans on social media weren’t quite so forgiving, quickly teeing off on the decision that would have gifted Daicos a goal one way or another.
Podcast Footy Falcon wrote on X: “The umpire who measured this is also the doctor who said Trump is six-foot-three.”
Jonathan Phillips joked: “Collingwood fans will watch that 100m penalty and still think the umpires are against them!”
An account called Michael stated: “80 metre penalty: the latest Daicos-only rule.”
Other fans were also keen to point out the belief of many that penalties for kicks not travelling over 15 metres are also incredibly consistent.
Footy fan Nathan G tweeted: “Time to start mowing grounds in 5 or 10m patches. Makes it easier to judge 15m kicks too.”
Kyle Moo offered: “25m is ‘not 15’ but 77m is 50 … umps might need to get some measuring training in … 15m has clearly been a directive this year and they have failed with it miserably.”
Guy Houston wrote: “AFL umpires need lessons on how long is a metre! This ‘not 15’ scream is really starting to give me the irrits and a 50m penalty in tonight’s game looked more like the length of NYC’s Fifth Avenue.”
The hopelessly long 50 metre penalty at least didn’t have a huge impact on the game, with Collingwood taking a 19-point lead into halftime before kicking four goals to one in a dominant third term for a 42-point lead at the last change.
The final quarter was a procession, with the Pies kicking an even four goals in every quarter to continue their hot recent form.
Originally published as ‘Huge error’: AFL world reacts to Josh Daicos’ 50m penalty against Lions
Key Blues pair set for Cats
Carlton have only beaten the two teams on the bottom of the AFL ladder this season but coach Michael Voss is adamant the signs are good for something special.
Fixture: Prime-time Pies on menu as Blues, Dees face crunch time
The AFL’s round 16-23 fixture is coming soon and expect to see Collingwood rewarded. But will Carlton and Melbourne pay the price for their slow starts to the year? Jon Ralph has the latest.