AFL injury news: AFL concedes it should have stopped play for Nathan Murphy injury

The AFL has contacted the Pies to address an incident in the last quarter of their win over Adelaide that left defender Nathan Murphy with a broken nose, yet no free kick was paid.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 29: Sam Petrevski-Seton of the Eagles tackles Alex Cincotta of the Blues during the round seven AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and Carlton Blues at Optus Stadium, on April 29, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The AFL has conceded to Collingwood it should have stopped play to allow a bleeding Nathan Murphy off the ground in the Pies’ dramatic comeback victory over Adelaide on Sunday night.

The league was in contact with the Pies on Monday and made clear Murphy should have been paid the free kick when Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty came back with the flight to collect him high.

Murphy was dazed and confused, suffering a broken nose but eventually avoided concussion despite a worrying history of head knocks.

As he walked off the ground escorted by Collingwood trainers Jordan De Goey soccered the ball off the ground in proximity and was penalised for insufficient intent.

AFL Head of Umpiring Dan Richardson said on Monday;

“Following a review today of that particular passage of play we acknowledge that the umpires missed the initial free kick and subsequently the process of managing the blood rule wasn’t then followed. We have been in contact with Collingwood to clarify the situation.”

Murphy left the ground bleeding after the incident. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The league made clear the missed free kick was an error given Murphy was clearly taken high by a player running back without his eyes on the ball.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae was furious with the incident post-match, saying Murphy’s duty of care had been breached.

“I don’t know if there’s footage of me, but I lost my mind,” McRae said.

“Whether it was a mark or a free kick, you could argue either, but then (Murphy) had blood and he’s trying to exit the field and we didn’t get a chance to replace the player in a critical moment.

“I was astounded by that. He’s fine, but he had blood, I don’t know whether we need an explanation for it.

“I probably won’t search for one, but I just found it staggering.”

Crows assistant coach Nathan van Berlo said he had sympathy for the umpires.

“It is an incredibly hard job umpiring a game of footy, there is so much happening,” he said.

“Umpiring at training is one of the hardest things to do and I get things wrong all the time, when I get things right players think it is wrong.

“So it is one of the hardest capers to do, mistakes will be made. We make mistakes as coaches, players make mistakes.”

McRae ‘astounded’ by umpiring howlers, reveals Moore illness

— Jason Phelan

Inspirational skipper Darcy Moore was unwell and nearly unable to take the field for Collingwood’s heart-stopping win against Adelaide.

Moore was outstanding and took the intercept mark that sealed Sunday’s one-point thriller at Adelaide Oval.

While coach Craig McRae wouldn’t detail exactly what Moore was suffering from, he confirmed it was a touch-and-go decision as the opening bounce approached.

“It was incredible … he was sick before the game and he was a chance not to play,” McRae said.

“You get to 20 minutes before the game, you think that he might not play, and you’re thinking ‘Oh, God, what do we do?’

“But then for him to go out and perform … it’s incredible.

“I think he’s fine now, but 20 minutes before the game it was a bit of an issue.”

The Magpies were 22 points down early in a tense final term but, as they have done on so many occasions under McRae, they dug deep to storm home for a pulsating win.

The result improved their record to 6-1 and put them four points ahead of second-placed Melbourne on the ladder.

“Last year we were in this position so many times, so we get to practice it more than anyone,” McRae said.

“I get that, but I just admire the want … it’s incredible.”

Darcy Moore was immense in the dying stages. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

McRae said he was left incredulous by some late umpiring howlers, but will not approach the AFL for an explanation for three last-quarter incidents.

With just under 11 minutes to play, and with his side trailing by eight points, Nathan Murphy was left dazed and bleeding from the nose after a marking contest with Darcy Fogarty where he appeared to be taken front-on and high by the Crows forward.

No free kick was paid and to rub salt into the Pies’ wounds Jordan De Goey was penalised for deliberate out-of-bounds as the play went dangerously close to Murphy and the club’s medical staff as they left the field.

“I don’t know if there’s footage of me, but I lost my mind,” McRae said.

“Whether it was a mark or a free kick, you could argue either, but then (Murphy) had blood and he’s trying to exit the field and we didn’t get a chance to replace the player in a critical moment.

“I was astounded by that.

“He’s fine, but he had blood, I don’t know whether we need an explanation for it.

“I probably won’t search for one, but I just found it staggering.

“(De Goey) almost hit the doc, isn’t there a duty of care there?

“You can go through every decision they made or didn’t make, but that’s not where we live.

“We make way more mistakes than they do … you make mistakes, you move on, that’s the way I look at it.”

Ash Johnson was also unlucky not to be awarded a free kick in the goal square after he was taken high in the dying minutes.

Nathan Krueger was subbed out of the game in the first quarter and was taken to hospital for assessment on his ribs after a clash with Fogarty.

McRae confirmed Scott Pendlebury will return from an eye injury for the clash against the Swans at the MCG on Sunday.