Josh Schache admits he got ‘lucky’ with James Sicily free kick

Western Bulldogs forward Josh Schache says he was surprised to receive a free kick paid against James Sicily and isn’t sure whether he was hit with a closed fist.

Hawthorn’s James Sicily looks at umpire Justin Power after a free kick was paid to Bulldogs forward Josh Schache. Picture: Michael Klein

Western Bulldogs forward Josh Schache has admitted he was “pretty lucky” to receive a free kick paid against Hawthorn’s James Sicily in the final quarter of Sunday’s match at the MCG.

The AFL on Monday ticked off the free kick, ruling the incident was more than 50m from the ball and backed the umpire’s decision that the contact was forceful.

However, Schache said the incident was just “a bit of push and shove” and he was surprised to receive the free kick, awarded as a centre bounce was about to take place.

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Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton told the Herald Sun he would not have paid the free kick “in this lifetime”.

“I don’t know,” Schache said when asked if Sicily hit him with a closed fist.

“It was just a bit of push and shove and I guess I was pretty lucky to get a free kick from it.

Josh Schache celebrates his goal after he was paid a free kick late in the fourth quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

“But I suppose the AFL’s clamping down on a bit of push and shoving behind the ball so I just played the whistle.

“I was a little bit (surprised). But they’ve clamped down on it a fair bit so I was happy enough to go back and take the kick.”

Schache kicked a goal from the free kick, giving the Bulldogs the lead as they soared to victory after trailing by as much as 30 points at the start of the last quarter.

“It was a pretty unreal feeling,” Schache said of kicking that goal, his fourth of the game.

“The feeling was pretty electric to be down by a fair bit and to come back and kick that goal to hit the front was pretty special.”

Originally published as Josh Schache admits he got ‘lucky’ with James Sicily free kick