AFL 2021: AFL says Dan Butler free kick was incorrect call
The AFL has ruled on the controversial call made in the dying seconds of St Kilda’s win over the Giants.
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The contentious free kick paid against Giant Callan Ward on Sunday to St Kilda forward Dan Butler that set up the Saints’ match-sealing goal was incorrectly awarded.
An AFL spokesperson confirmed to the Herald Sun on Monday that the wrong decision was made, but was otherwise complimentary of how umpires and players adapted to the game’s new rules in Round 1.
St Kilda led by two points, with 75 seconds left in the game, when Ward played on in his defensive 50, only for Butler to charge at him, make contact and dispossess him.
Umpire Eleni Glouftsis immediately awarded Butler a free kick, explaining to Ward that “you didn’t kick it. If you’ve had prior (opportunity), you must successfully dispose (of the ball)”.
A Greater Western Sydney player, with Ward, Phil Davis and Sam Taylor nearby, is then heard saying: “Bumping is not tackling.”
The conjecture in the aftermath was that Butler’s arms were either side of Ward, but were never actually wrapped around the Giant, with the bump causing the Sherrin to spill.
Butler’s subsequent goal was the final score of the match and stretched the Saints’ winning margin to eight points.
The 2021 Laws of Australian Football, under incorrect disposals, state that a “legal tackle” must cause “the football to be dislodged from the player’s possession” for a free kick to be paid.
In this case, Butler did not lay a legal tackle, or a tackle at all.
There were only four free kicks paid for player indiscretions while manning the mark in Round 1, illustrating how quickly teams have adjusted to the new ‘stand’ rule that prevents forwards or sideways movement.
The rule stirred significant debate throughout the pre-season, but the roughly 500 umpire visits to clubs this summer appear to have helped make a largely smooth transition.
One aspect to watch will be whether umpires are quicker to call play on in Round 2 when footballers round the mark, particularly while taking a shot at goal.
That rule introduction, as well as the new medical sub and the decision to slash maximum interchange rotations from 90 to 75 per side, dominated discussion leading into the opening round.
The AFL’s aim was to produce more free-flowing football, which appears to be a success through the first weekend of play.
The average Round 1 score this year was 84.9, up from 78.5 in 2019 – ignoring the shortened games of last season – while other key indicators comparing the time periods highlight positive change.
Tackles plummeted from 62 to 51.9, the number of ball-ups and throw-ins were also down, and teams’ ability to transition the ball from their defensive 50 to an inside 50 increased by 5.7 per cent.
WARD WEIGHS IN ON DECISION
Giants midfielder Callan Ward has accepted the decision of umpire Eleni Glouftsis in the wake of strong debate about whether a match-defining holding the ball decision on Sunday was right.
St Kilda forward Dan Butler iced an eight-point win for his team by kicking a goal after Ward was penalised for failing to dispose of the football correctly with just minutes to go in the match.
Ward and his teammate Phil Davis both protested that Butler didn’t actually lay a tackle and the ball only spilt out after he was bumped.
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After Glouftsis blew the whistle Ward said “a bump is not a tackle” but Glouftsis was quick to respond and said “You didn’t kick it. If you’ve had prior (opportunity), you must successfully dispose of the ball.”
The AFL rule book says when a player has had prior, as Ward did, a free kick shall be awarded if that player does not correctly dispose of the football immediately when they are “legally tackled”.
But, in a bid to downplay any fall out, Ward declared he was happy with the extra explanation given to him by Glouftsis.
“I was the culprit. It’s holding the ball,” Ward said in a video posted to the club’s Twitter account.
“Eleni, the umpire, explained it pretty well. She said if you try and dispose of the ball after you’ve had a chance to get rid of it, it’s holding the ball if you don’t dispose of it correctly.
“I tried to kick it and the ball didn’t hit my foot.
“I thought if you were at least attempting to kick the ball (it was play on) but that’s only if you haven’t had a chance to get rid of it.
“She explained it really well, it was a free kick and the sealer for them (St Kilda) unfortunately for me and the team.”
GWS coach Leon Cameron also defended the controversial umpiring decision that sealed the Giants’ fate on Sunday.
A depleted Saints pulled off one of the club’s best wins in years, kicking four of the last five goals to secure an eight-point win.
The contentious decision left Ward and the Giants’ players scratching their heads at the time, but Cameron said he thought it was the correct call.
“I think the rule is if you take them on and you get bumped and you don’t get any purchase on the ball then it’s holding the ball,” Cameron said.
“So, if that’s the case then it’s holding the ball.
“You’re never going to be critical of guys who are trying something, and he was trying to switch the ball, so I back his decision.”
Cameron said he was frustrated by his side’s inability to take opportunities but was buoyed by the fact they recorded 68 inside-50s.
“Last year we were really poor with our inside-50s in terms of getting it in there, so we got it in there today, but just the composure going back in re-entry wise wasn’t there,” he said.
“We probably just banged it long a little bit too much. Clearly the conditions led to a fair bit of that, so we just didn’t get our reward for our hard work in patches, and that was disappointing.
“And then when they had their moments, when they had the opportunity to hit the scoreboard they nailed two or three goals that were the difference in the end.”
More than 100 millimetres of rainfall in the lead up to the game ensured it was a neck-and-neck contest, but a late flourish from the courageous Saints made sure they banked the four points in a heart-stopper.
The Saints entered the final quarter three points up, but an early GWS onslaught looked to have taken the game away from them before a miss by Harry Himmelberg at the 11-minute mark from almost straight in front and just 15 metres out changed momentum.
Best game of the weekend ruined by shocking umpiring!
— Drew Semmens (@drewie_5) March 21, 2021
If you can’t tackle someone and pay holding the ball - they’ll be 1000 free kicks paid every week! #AFLGiantsSaints
That was a correct call against Ward there. Incorrect disposal every day of the week@AFL#AFL#AFLGiantsSaints
— Rhett Cook (@recklessrhett) March 21, 2021
Four minutes later Jack Lonie kicked a goal of the round contender from the forward pocket with a snap that defied logic to pull the margin back to a straight kick.
And after a rushed behind at the 20-minute mark Seb Ross took an intercept mark right on 50 and used the new stand rule to his advantage to give himself an extra five metres before pumping a goal through to give St Kilda a one-point lead.
A contested mark and goal to Tim Membrey two minutes later gave the Saints a seven-point advantage, before Lachie Keefe gave the Giants a late sniff with a 50-metre bomb.
But Butler’s free kick goal then put the result beyond doubt for St Kilda.
GREENE’S MARK OF THE YEAR
After more than 100 millimetres of rain in the 24-hours leading up to Sunday’s game the odds of someone taking a mark of the year contender would’ve been astronomical.
But like only Toby Greene can, the Giants star defied those odds just 16-minutes into the game.
When Sam Taylor won a free kick just forward of the wing for GWS he pumped the ball deep inside 50 to about 25 metres out from the Giants’ goal.
Debutant Paul Hunter drifted across the front of the pack, but his fingertips weren’t enough to deny Greene who seemed to sit on Dougal Howard’s back for an eternity before pulling the mark in.
And to cap it off he went back and drilled the Giants’ first goal of 2021.
NEW JACK IN ATTACK
Jack Higgins might not have the most prolific numbers of new recruits this season, but he could be the most important acquisition.
The former Tiger added another class option to the Saints’ mosquito fleet which was a cornerstone of their success last year.
His former Richmond teammate Dan Butler was largely ineffective for much of the game despite conditions favouring small forwards.
But where that would’ve spelled danger for St Kilda in 2020, Higgins was able to fill that void with two goals.
COGS’ CLAMPS
The biggest surprise move of the game as Leon Cameron sent captain Stephen Coniglio to Jack Steele to perform a hard run-with role on the Saints’ skipper.
It turned out to be a masterstroke from the GWS coach as Coniglio found a stack of the footy and was the Giants’ most influential midfielder.
While Steele found the ball 19 times, Coniglio amassed 24 disposals and had a game-high 602 metres gained.
The 27-year-old also bobbed up to kick a goal.
HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS
Hunter Clark enjoyed a breakout season in 2020 and was rewarded with more midfield time against the Giants.
The 21-year-old celebrated penning a new two-year deal during the week by being one of the Saints best with 24 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and four intercepts.
The other Hunter, Paul Hunter, would’ve impressed Brett Ratten with his work around the ground and follow-up efforts.
Hunter had nine disposals and two tackles to go with his 19 hit outs.
It creates a nice headache for Ratten with first choice rucks Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall expected to return in the next month.
SCOREBOARD
GIANTS 2.3 4.5 8.9 11.12 78
SAINTS 1.2 5.6 9.6 13.8 86
MOTTERSHEAD’S BEST
Giants: Taranto, Coniglio, Himmelberg, Perryman, Hopper.
Saints: Membrey, Clark, Billings, Gresham, Ross, Bytel.
GOALS
Giants: Himmelberg 3, Greene, Green, Hill, Coniglio, Ward, Taranto, Hopper, Keefe.
Saints: Membrey 3, Lonie 2, Higgins 2, Ross 2, Billings, Hill, Battle
INJURIES
Giants: nil.
Saints: nil.
UMPIRES
Donlon, Stevic, Glouftsis.
VENUE
Giants Stadium
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JAMES MOTTERSHEAD’S VOTES
3. T.Membrey (St. K)
2. H.Clark (St. K)
1. J.Billings (St. K)
Originally published as AFL 2021: AFL says Dan Butler free kick was incorrect call
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