AFL 2024: The AFL has ticked off the controversial free kick awarded against Collingwood’s Lachie Sullivan

The Sean Darcy free kick had Collingwood supporters up in arms and coach Craig McRae ‘confused’. But the AFL has backed the umpire, and confirmed the rule is something clubs know about.

The AFL has ticked off the controversial free kick awarded against Collingwood’s Lachie Sullivan which resulted in a crucial late goal to Fremantle’s Sean Darcy in Friday night’s thrilling draw at Perth Stadium.

A league spokesperson said umpire Mathew Nicholls “officiated correctly” when he ruled against Sullivan for tossing the ball to teammate Nick Daicos at a ball-up deep in the Dockers’ attack, instead of giving it back to the umpire.

Darcy’s goal at the 23-minute-mark of the final term breathed new life into the Dockers with subsequent majors to Hayden Young and Alex Pearce helping to bring about the third draw of the season – and Collingwood’s second.

Collingwood players react after the free kick was paid to Sean Darcy. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The decision had Collingwood supporters up in arms, coach Craig McRae calling for clarification from the AFL and footy fans across the country wondering if common sense could be applied to the rule.

But the AFL backed Nicholls’ contentious call, explaining it was the fourth time this year such a decision had been made.

Clubs had been made aware in a memo ahead of last year’s finals series that incidents such as Sullivan’s would be deemed time wasting and a free kick would be paid.

The AFL spokesperson said the “free kick (had been) officiated correctly. Time wasting (was) correctly paid for handing (the ball) to another player rather than (the) umpire.”

Collingwood’s Jack Crisp was at the stoppage when the time-wasting free kick was paid against Sullivan.

“I was next to Sully,” Crisp said on 3AW. “I hadn’t heard of that rule before, to be honest with you. You learn something new every day.

“You can’t change the decision, just got to move on.”

Jack Crisp said he hadn’t heard of that rule before. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

The AFL believed there had been a trend of clubs using the practice of not handing the ball directly to an umpire as a time-wasting tactic in recent seasons, giving teammates more time to set up.

A memo was forwarded to the clubs ahead of the finals in 2023 warning against the practice.

The memo included the reference: “Time wasting – We have also seen some recent examples where players have not given the ball straight back to the umpire when a stoppage is called. Players are reminded that if they are in possession of the ball and the umpire calls for a ball up to either leave the ball on the ground, or give the ball directly to the umpire (as opposed to another Player).”

Magpies coach Craig McRae said after the match: “I’m looking forward to what the AFL tells us about that, because I wasn’t aware that’s a free kick.”

“But maybe clearly it is, because they don’t pay things that aren’t there. So yeah, looking forward to seeing what they say.

“At that moment, I was confused because I was told that he (Daicos) touched the umpire … but again, I was unaware of what actually happened until afterwards.

“It’ll be what it will be. It doesn’t help us, does it?”

Originally published as AFL 2024: The AFL has ticked off the controversial free kick awarded against Collingwood’s Lachie Sullivan