‘The worst performance of umpiring I have ever seen’: Veteran newshound incensed over Demons-Saints blockbuster

It was the biggest comeback in AFL history, but an umpire ruling in the Melbourne-St Kilda showdown on Sunday left Nick McCallum seeing red.

Time On is your wrap-up of all the footy gossip and banter.

Demons-Saints showdown leaves fans worse for wear

Veteran newshound Nick McCallum was one of many Melbourne fans incensed after the final minute of Sunday’s nailbiter at Marvel Stadium.

The team had just given up a 46-point lead and confusion reigned when the umpires paid a free kick with eight seconds left.

He vented on X: “That was THE worst performance of umpiring I have ever seen in 58 years of going to the footy. No one knew what was going on. Absolutely appalling. AFL must act to make sure it never happens again.”

McCallum clarified that he understood the Demons lost a game they never should have, but “both teams had no idea what was going on”.

Curiously, a few hours later on Sunday night McCallum — the Channel 7 and 3AW newsman — had removed the tweet. Perhaps a calmer mind prevailed after the shock of the loss.

Thomas and Cornes coverage flip

Dale Thomas and Kane Cornes will swap nights on the footy coverage this week with Thomas’ wife Tash due to go into labour at any moment.

Tash is due to go into labour at any moment. Picture: Supplied

Thomas will remain in Melbourne doing the Thursday night match between the Bulldogs and GWS at Marvel while Cornes will stay in Adelaide to work Friday night on the Crows v Hawks match at Adelaide Oval.

Returning mum Abbey Holmes will travel to Adelaide with her baby Brax.

Holmes posted to social media that she’d been given a private room to pump breast milk pre-game and at halftime last week.

Brad Scott Bombers dig

Former North Melbourne star Corey McKernan had a cheeky dig at Essendon coach Brad Scott.

McKernan reacted to a social media post by the Bombers, which showed Scott talking to the club’s former champions as they celebrated the 2000 premiership team at Marvel Stadium.

“Good to see he could say hello to the past players when they make the effort to go into the rooms... must be a new thing he’s started doing,” McKernan wrote on social media, with a sarcastic wink.

Scott coached North Melbourne from 2010 to 2019, after McKernan had retired, and had a frosty relationship with many of North’s former champions.

In the address, Scott said the 2000 premiership team was “arguably the best team of all time”. “(They) really set the benchmark in the competition for what a premiership team could look like. Had an all-time great season in 2000,” he said.

Eagle’s supremacy reigns at Marvel

Former Eagle Mark LeCras was keeping a close watch on Jeremy Cameron at Marvel Stadium.

Mark LeCras retains his crown for most goals kicked at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Instagram

LeCras’ 12 goal haul in Round 16, 2010, still remains the record after Cameron ended with a career high 11 against North Melbourne.

LeCras posted a picture to his Instagram story with a crown on to the tune of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing. Well played.

Originally published as ‘The worst performance of umpiring I have ever seen’: Veteran newshound incensed over Demons-Saints blockbuster