Lance Franklin criticised for exaggerating contact in a marking contest to win a free kick
ALEX Rance has come under fire over the last two weeks after being fined for staging for free kicks and now Sydney superstar Lance Franklin has been slammed for a similar incident. Did he take a dive? HAVE YOUR SAY
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SYDNEY superstar Lance Franklin has been cleared of staging after a controversial free kick against West Coast.
Franklin appeared to exaggerate contact from Shannon Hurn in a marking contest late in the third quarter of Friday night’s clash against the Eagles at the SCG.
DID LANCE FRANKLIN STAGE FOR A FREE KICK? WATCH IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE AND HAVE YOUR SAY
As the star forward prepared to leap for the ball he received some contact to his arm and was pushed forward but did not fall to the ground.
He was paid a free kick immediately by the controlling umpire, one of three free kicks he received in quick succession late in the quarter.
Match review officer Michael Christian laid no charges from the game and did not deem the Franklin incident worthy of any further explanation.
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The incident comes after Richmond star Alex Rance has been slammed over the last two weeks for his diving tactics and was fined once by Christian for staging against Essendon.
Franklin’s incident drew immediate comparisons to the criticism of Rance.
Since then, the Tigers defender has been under the microscope and was accused of taking another dive against Port Adelaide last Friday night.
Former Collingwood and Richmond forward Brian Taylor was quick to comment.
“I wonder if that was Alex Rance, would we be saying was there a bit of mayo on it?” he said on Channel 7 of whether Franklin milked a free kick.
In explaining his decision to fine Rance for staging against Essendon, Christian said: “If you excessively exaggerate in an unsportsmanlike manner that may affect an umpire’s decision then it’s deemed as staging.”
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall said Franklin should not have been awarded a free kick and used Christian’s Rance explanation to declare the former Hawk could be in trouble.
“I don’t know about excessive but it definitely influenced the umpire’s decision,” he said on Fox Footy. “There was no free kick there.
“I thought Hurn outbodied him and extended his hands to the ball in the marking contest. He did everything you could ask him to do.”
Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos said Franklin definitely exaggerated contact.
“It’s going to be a test for Michael Christian in my opinion because clearly it wasn’t a free kick.
“So if you excessively exaggerate to milk a free kick, he’s excessively exaggerated to milk a free kick. Was it as bad as Rance’s? No I don’t think so but the result was exactly the same.
“I’ll predicate this though, I don’t think Rance should have got fined either.”
North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey defended Franklin.
“It wasn’t a dive,” he said.
“He maybe milked the free kick a little bit.”
Fans were quick to criticise the star goalkicker and urged for consistency from Christian when he reviews Friday night’s clash on Saturday and lays any charges.
Buddy franklin or Alex Rance?? #AFLSwansEagles
— Chris Hodgetts (@ChrisHodgetts) June 15, 2018
Buddy Franklin Olympic Gold Medallist Tokyo 2020 #AFLSwansEagles
— Victor Yong (@BigVic_AFL) June 15, 2018
@7AFL @1116sen @AFL @FOXFOOTY hoping you all give Buddy Franklin the same treatment for diving as you did to Alex Rance last week. #Consistency #aflswanseagles
— Tom Rivers (@trivers6) June 15, 2018
I’m assuming we’re going to spend all week crucifying Buddy Franklin for diving or do we only do that for Alex Rance ???? #DoubleStandards #HypocriticalDuck
— Tim Fearn-Wannan (@fiery68) June 15, 2018
Dear Alex Rance, I once read that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Much Respect Buddy Franklin
— alistair nicolson (@alnic76) June 15, 2018