‘I looked at the umpire’: North Melbourne’s Bailey Scott speaks as controversial non-call costs Roos 50-metre penalty
Bailey Scott has spoken after being denied a clear 50 metre penalty in the dying stages against Collingwood. He speak to JAY CLARK about his thoughts on the non-decision.
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North Melbourne was cruelly denied a chance to secure the upset win of the season when umpires failed to pay a 50m penalty for stepping over the mark on Sunday.
Collingwood clinched the equal-third biggest comeback since 2001 and tied for seventh-biggest of all time when the Magpies sensationally clawed back from 54 points down to pip the Kangaroos by one point at Marvel Stadium.
But Kangaroos’ winger Bailey Scott appeared to be dudded by the whistleblowers twice on Sunday after confirming to the Herald Sun after the match he definitely touched a second-quarter shot on goal from Jack Crisp.
Replays also appeared to show the ball was touched, but it was paid a goal.
The league will also have to clarify its position on Monday on the non-50m call in the last 50 seconds when Magpies’ pair Beau McCreery and Steele Sidebottom clearly went over the mark.
I thought it was clearly touched with video evidence showing Bailey Scott touched it. His fingers bent back in the replay. Bizarre https://t.co/Q0y6ToFe04
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) June 16, 2024
Scott said he was expecting the umpires to pay 50m to give him a shot 30m out from goal after intercepting a Nick Daicos kick off the ground.
Down by two points at the time, Scott immediately pointed downfield towards goal in a plea for 50m after he saw the Magpies rush towards him after taking the mark.
Under AFL rules, it is a 50m penalty when players step over the mark, but the decision was not paid.
“I gave them a chance to pay a 50m to get a shot there. But that is all right, you have got to play by the umpire’s decision,” Scott said.
“I went back on the line and they came at me and it might be 50m elsewhere but it was very loud, so the umpire gave them the benefit of the doubt.
“It got paid a mark and I looked at the umpire to make sure.
“But as soon as he paid a mark I thought there is not enough time. I need to get going, so I did play on after that.”
Triple-premiership Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt said the incident “has got to be 50m” on the Fox Footy broadcast.
The Kangaroos had another chance to kick a goal but Zac Fisher’s snap drafted wide and registered only one behind in the final 20 seconds.
The controversial umpires’ decisions were a tough blow for the Kangaroos who let slip back-to-back wins after toppling West Coast on the road last weekend in Perth.
But there was a silver lining as the loss means the Kangas will remain on the bottom of the ladder and stay in line to receive the No. 1 picks in the national, rookie and pre-season drafts.
The Kangas take on Richmond, which is in second-last spot four points ahead of the Roos, in Round 21 at Marvel Stadium.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson refused to blame the umpiring for the loss.
“The umpires make hundreds of decisions a game. It just feels more pivotal at that point,” Clarkson said.
“The bottom line is it should never have got to that position.”
George Wardlaw’s brilliant performance in the midfield has seen the hard nut surge into clear favouritism for the Rising Star award after gathering 30 disposals and one goal.
“George’s game starts at the contest there and that first half the reason why our pressure was up was because he sets the tone with that,” Scott said.
“He was a big reason why we were ahead at the start.”
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