Fans blow up after Sam Petrevski-Seton pinged for holding the ball
Footy fans have been left seething and calling on the AFL for an immediate change after the “worst decision of the year” unfolded.
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The AFL have a holding the ball problem.
Nothing irritates fans of the game more than extremely contentious free kicks and the changes to the holding the ball rule have caused nothing but widespread outrage and mass confusion.
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On Sunday it was Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton who found himself on the receiving end of the new interpretation to the rule.
A scrappy passage of play ended with the ball being tapped in Petrevski-Seton’s direction. As the silky Blues player grabbed possession of the ball he was almost immediately wrapped up by hulking Eagles forward Jack Darling and wrestled to the ground.
Commentator Brian Taylor calling the play was quick to mention there was “definitely no prior opportunity there”. The umpire however saw it differently and pinged Petrevski-Seton for holding the ball.
Making matters worse the umpire then paid 50 against the Blues and gifted Darling a goal to bring the Eagles back level with a little over three minutes to play in the quarter.
Commentators watching on were left baffled.
“He was wrapped up straight away a man a hell of a lot bigger than him. What’s he asking Sam Petrevski-Seton to do here?” Geelong great Cameron Ling said.
Melbourne AFLW star Daisy Pearce added: “Absolutely no prior opportunity.
“He’s given up trying to get it out because he’s got one of the biggest guys on the ground laying on top of him, keeping the ball in.”
The decision left footy fans watching on seeing red and many calling out the AFL to change the rule.
“Anyone watching the @AFL game in Perth now knows how ridiculously inconsistent that holding the ball was. Worst decision of the year. What a joke,” Dave Hughes said.
“That’s a disgrace umpire 22 as always horrific!!! What’s the player supposed to do s*** it out,” Brendan Fevola tweeted.
“That was a horrific call and then 50m … HORRIFIC,” Dylan Alcott wrote.
Oh my god, @AFL holding the ball has ruined our game. Do something about it.
— Nicholas Graham (@nickeygraham) August 9, 2020
Originally published as Fans blow up after Sam Petrevski-Seton pinged for holding the ball