Geelong coach Chris Scott criticises AFL for publicly labelling the Izak Rankine non-decision as an umpiring mistake

The AFL conceded Izak Rankine should have received a free kick or a mark in their tight loss. But Chris Scott believes the AFL caved to public pressure and have opened up a can of worms.

Geelong coach Chris Scott has criticised the AFL for publicly labelling the Izak Rankine non-decision as an umpiring mistake, declaring the league caved to public pressure.

The AFL released a statement on Sunday saying that the Crows livewire should have been awarded a mark or a free kick in the final two minutes of Adelaide’s nailbiting loss to Gold Coast.

Scott believes the AFL is trying to do the do the right thing, but described the AFL’s response as an “over-reaction” as he argued game-defining umpiring decisions happen all the way through a match, not just in the dying minutes.

Izak Rankine wans’t awarded a mark of a free kick in the dying minutes. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“I think they’ve got a choice. They can be completely transparent and clarify every single mistake so everyone knows, or don’t do it at all,” Scott said.

“But when you cherry-pick examples because there’s public pressure, I think that’s an error.

“The reality for (umpires) and for the other 17 clubs in the competition, regularly there are umpiring mistakes late in games that if you isolate them, cost teams the game.

“This is not a unique situation. What’s rare is that the AFL voluntarily come out and clarify it.

“Now, most of the time that clarification happens behind closed doors, but I would say (a costly umpiring error) happens a lot – I’m going to say at least a few times a game, especially in close games.

“They may not be egregious errors, but they’re errors nonetheless. Look, that’s the nature of our game.

“Like the idea that this is a remarkable situation because a mistake was made in a kind of close call, like a 50-50, is laughable.”

Scott pointed to St Kilda’s first goal against the Cats in their narrow loss in round two as an example.

“When does it matter, when in the game that it costs you?” Scott questioned.

“All it is is caving into public pressure.

“We gave up the first goal against St Kilda, which was a clear push in the back not paid. Is that any different to if it was in the last 30 seconds of the game?”

Geelong faces Adelaide in a Thursday night blockbuster at Adelaide Oval to kick off Gather Round and Scott says he is facing for favourable umpiring calls to go the Crows’ way due to their home ground advantage.

Chris Scott. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Look, there’s such a thing as human nature, and I think the stats over the journey – the objective stats – are irrefutable, the home team tends to have an advantage,” Scott said.

“And if you sort of think through human nature, is logical. So you always go into that base case.

“But I also think you can override human nature to an extent, and know that that is a possibility this week.

“I think the umpires are smart guys in the department, they are smart and they can sort of separate, what’s real and what’s not.”

Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca was visibly frustrated after the Demons’ loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium last week, which Petracca’s former teammate Jordan Lewis took opposition to on Fox Footy on Monday night. .

Asked about opposition to his Petracca’s reaction, Scott said that players should be allowed to be themselves.

“The former players are having a bad couple of weeks, aren’t they?” Scott said with a smile, as he alluded to opinions on West Coast captain Oscar Allen meeting with rival clubs.

“We as an industry, we want them every way, don’t we? Show more emotions, show less, be yourself, put on a facade. Which one is it?” Scott said.

“I think when in doubt, within reason, what’s wrong with showing it?”

Originally published as Geelong coach Chris Scott criticises AFL for publicly labelling the Izak Rankine non-decision as an umpiring mistake