AFL Daily: 'Stubborn' umpire Ray Chamberlain admits umpiring blue
It was the non-decision that had many footy fans hot under the collar and now the man at the centre of it, umpire 'Razor' Ray Chamberlain has admitted he made a blue. RE-CAP TUESDAY'S FOOTY NEWS.
Leading AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain has owned up to a missed free kick that would have seen North Melbourne not only avoid its lowest-ever score but also potentially change the course of its horror loss to Geelong at the weekend.
Chamberlain or 'Razor Ray' as he's known in the footy world, said he "got a bit stubborn" and was "belligerent" for not paying the free kick – saying Kangas captain Jack Ziebell's exaggeration had played a part in the umpire's non-call.Chamberlain said he was disappointed with himself after missing what, upon review, was a straightforward free kick.
The non-call proved costly as Geelong marched clear while North was restricted to 1.8 (14) – its lowest-ever score.Commentators Matthew Richardson said the Ziebell incident "had to be a free kick" while former Cats captain agreed on Channel 7, saying it was "clear as day".
“I don’t like paying free kicks when players put a little bit on it. It’s a free kick every day, there’s no question, it’s a missed free kick,” Chamberlain told SEN radio.
“If I reflect on that, it was my mentality there that was my error and that’s why I didn’t pay the free kick.“I’m disappointed in myself about that.”
The blue came in a pivotal moment of the clash with both sides struggling to hit the scoreboard.
With Geelong leading 12-11 in the second term, Ben Brown marked and drove the ball towards the top of the goal square.Cats defender Zach Tuohy made front-on contact with Ziebell, knocking him to the ground before the ball arrived, but play-on was called.
"It was the one (decision) I went home and watched,” Chamberlain said.
“My position’s pretty good, I identify (Jack) Ziebell out the back, the ball’s coming in deep and I see Tuohy and watch it all the way.
“You go, ‘How come you didn’t pay a free kick? You’ve seen it, he makes contact, why didn’t you pay it?’“If I’m honest, I think I got a bit stubborn, I think I got a little bit belligerent.”
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley took to social media to praise Chamberlain's honesty."Love this," Buckley tweeted.
"Kudos to this kind of openness and honesty. Builds trust and respect. Well done Razor."
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Originally published as AFL Daily: 'Stubborn' umpire Ray Chamberlain admits umpiring blue
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