‘It’s c**p’: Huge drama in AFL thriller as footy world divided
The footy world has been left divided after a controversial moment the Bulldogs had a goal taken away against Carlton.
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The Western Bulldogs’ comeback win over the Blues has been overshadowed by a dramatic moment where the Dogs had a goal controversially taken off them.
It was a Friday night thriller at Marvel Stadium as Carlton plunged towards crisis point following the eight-point defeat.
The Blues led by 24 points moments before half time, but for the third time this season they were run over the top of in the second half before falling 12.11 (83) to 11.9 (75).
In a frenetic final quarter the drama reached fever pitch when Sam Darcy appeared to kick a goal snapping across his body.
Carlton fullback Jacob Weitering immediately protested by waving his hands towards the umpires, but the goal was awarded before the score review began.
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Video replays of the incident appeared anything but conclusive, with blurry vision unable to show a definitive frame where Weitering’s hand disturbed the ball’s trajectory.
Despite this, the goal was taken away from Darcy, with Melbourne Demons legend Garry Lyon predicting the outcome despite noting the lack of definitive evidence.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall was scathing on the process, despite accepting that the right decision was made.
“You can’t guess Gaz,” Dunstall told Lyon on Fox Footy.
“You can’t see a finger bending. It’s probably the right decision and yet we are yet to see any evidence.
You can watch the controversial incident in the video player above
When asked by a perplexed Brad Johnson on SEN radio, AFL legend Gerard Healy was blunt.
“It’s not conclusive. It’s c**p,” he said.
Football producer Ralph Horowitz called it “embarrassing” in a message posted on X.
Fortunately for the AFL, the decision did not decide the outcome of the game with the Bulldogs kicking the last two goals of the contest.
Attention will now turn to Carlton coach Michael Voss after a 0-3 start to the season.
Most concerning for the Blues is the manner of the defeat with the Blues being overrun in the second half for the third time this year.
The Blues were also rolled by a fast-finishing Richmond in Round 1 before getting outplayed by Hawthorn last week.
“They have been run over three times in the second half and that’s a disturbing trend to start developing,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
Zero and three is not the position Voss wants his side to be in ahead of a Round 4 showdown with Collingwood.
The Blues led at halftime for the third straight week but were overrun by the Bulldogs to go down by eight points.
Brodie Kemp lifted in the absence of Harry McKay, booting a career high five goals, while ruckman Tom De Koning was brilliant all night.
But it wasn’t enough for the Blues as a well-drilled and relentless Bulldogs outfit – led by stand-in skipper Tom Liberatore – capitalised in the important moments.
Liberatore had 30 disposals and laid 10 tackles while mature-age recruit Sam Davidson had a terrific night on the wing.
Originally published as ‘It’s c**p’: Huge drama in AFL thriller as footy world divided
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