Mark Robinson: Why Giants boss Jason McCartney deserved whack and Lachie Neale got off lightly

Two penalties were handed out relating to interactions with umpires. One was correct but the other missed the mark, writes Mark Robinson.

Finally, the penalty fits the crime.

GWS head of football Jason McCartney was on Tuesday fined $20,000 for verbally engaging the field umpires at halftime on Saturday night.

One report claimed McCartney delivered a scathing “tirade’’ to the umpires. The Giants laughed at that suggestion.

Journalist Jacqui Reed actually broke the story on 3AW Saturday when she asked Giants football director Jimmy Bartel why McCartney had interacted with the umpires.

“He would’ve been having a friendly chat with the umpires,’’ Bartel quipped.

Twenty large isn’t a friendly chat.

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Neale got off lighlty after touching an umpire during the Lions’ clash with Carlton.

Whatever is the extent of the abuse, McCartney broke a cardinal sin in football: That’s not to confront umpires, doubly so when agitated and frustrated over the free kick count.

For an experienced AFL man, McCartney thought he was a man with a can in the outer at local footy. It’s not on — at local foot, either.

The penalty fitted the crime.

It makes the penalty handed to Brisbane’s Lachie Neale this week all the more bewildering.

Neale was fined $1500 for making contact with the field umpire.

You get the same for tripping.

Neale walks away from field umpire Mathew Nicholls with blood streaming from his head.

Clearly, Neale’s actions weren’t as aggressive or demonstrative as McCartney’s, but Neale was in a frustrated mindset and his immediate response was to touch the umpire.

McCartney abused the umpire and Neale abused his position as a player.

Media reports suggested Neale reached out to the umpire to complain that he didn’t get a free kick for high contact and pointed to his bloodied head as evidence.

But Lions coach Chris Fagan told AFL360 on Tuesday night. ‘’I think his intentions were to point out to the umpire that he was bleeding from his head and needed to go off, however you just can’t touch umpire.’’

Chris Fagan says Neale’s actions are a necessary reminder you cannot touch the umpire.

An experienced football person, Fagan did not blindly defend his player.

‘’Regardless of anything, it’s a good reminder to everyone you can’t touch umpires,’’ Fagan said.

‘’Overall, it should be viewed as a good reminder to everyone that it’s not acceptable behaviour.’’

Neale has had a curious start to the season.

There’s no denying his toughness — he played through severe injury against the Blues — but he has also conceded there was a mental battle while playing through a back injury.

Twice this year Neale has been involved in on-field incidents. The first being his slanging match with Geelong coach Chris Scott, after of which Scott received a $10,000 suspended fine and Neale nothing.

The AFL came down heavy on Greater Western Sydney head of football Jason McCartney.

“Everyone involved in Australian football has a responsibility to demonstrate respect towards each other at all times — and that includes coaches towards players and players towards coaches. We can never underestimate the impact of the actions of coaches and players at AFL level on all levels of the game,” AFL boss Steve Hocking said at the time.

Clearly, the Brownlow medallist got a mulligan for that.

Then, on Saturday, he touched the umpire and received only a $1500 fine.

While McCartney’s incident was much worse, and he deserves his penalty, Neale can count himself very lucky.

The $1500 fine should’ve been at least $5000 if the AFL wanted to send a message to “all levels of the game’’.