Dale Thomas sent straight to tribunal for abusing umpire in Carlton’s loss to GWS

No wonder Dale Thomas was unhappy, but accusing an umpire of cheating is a step too far — and Daisy could face a big fine or even suspension if he approaches tonight’s tribunal hearing the wrong way.

Dale Thomas has been sent straight to the tribunal. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Dale Thomas needs to play this smart.

The Carlton veteran is in hot water for calling boundary umpire Michael Barlow a “f---ing cheat” on Sunday.

To avoid getting a one-match suspension, or a James Hird-esque $20,000 fine, Thomas needs to apologise profusely at the tribunal tonight for his misjudgement and nasty sledge in the heat of the moment.

We understand he would be angry and we get that he would be disappointed at suffering another heavy loss.

But accusing the boundary umpire of cheating was a step too far, and he needs to say as much to ensure the fine is in the $5000-$10,000 range.

Thomas directed the spray at Barlow because the umpire warned the Giants they had an extra man in the forward line and were at risk of breaching the AFL’s starting position rules.

This sort of communication and gentle encouragement would happen most games.

In a way, it’s the umpires looking out for the players.

This season we have seen a few times an umpire wait an extra few seconds to give players the chance to be in the correct position.

Thomas and the Blues need to understand this sort of stuff has happened a bit this year.

Dale Thomas has been sent straight to the tribunal. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Umpire Barlow wasn’t cheating and the accusation was unfair, and the whistleblower obviously felt there was some venom in the sledge.

If Thomas wants to argue the circumstances or get too cute at the tribunal tonight, he is at risk of receiving a whopping $20,000 fine or even a one-game suspension.

The Blues have a pretty important game against St Kilda on Sunday and Brendon Bolton would not want to lose Thomas for trying to justify a sledge.

The game needs umpires at grass roots level more than ever.

‘Daisy’, say sorry, admit you made a blue, and get on with the important matter of winning on Sunday.

The cheating barbs are unnecessary. Leave them at home.

‘F***ING CHEAT’: DAISY CHARGED WITH UMP ABUSE

Carlton veteran Dale Thomas will front the tribunal on Tuesday night for calling a boundary umpire a “cheat” over a 6-6-6 warning during the blowout loss to Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.

Thomas, 31, faces a heavy fine as part of the league’s crackdown on umpire abuse for firing the nasty sledge at boundary umpire Michael Barlow during the third quarter.

The Herald Sun understands Barlow had warned the Giants they had seven players in the forward line — and were at risk of giving away a free kick for breaching the AFL’s starting position rules — when Thomas interjected and abused the whistleblower.

Thomas is alleged to have said to Barlow: “You are a f---ing cheat” and was on Monday subsequently charged with “abusing an umpire”.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Thomas said he would explain the circumstances that led to the outburst at the tribunal tonight.

“To be completely honest, I was surprised when I got told I was on report at the start of the fourth quarter,” he told the AFL website.

“Firstly, I obviously respect the umpires and everything they do in the game, not just at our level but all levels.

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“I think going in there tonight, I’ll be able to give context to what was actually said out on the ground.

“I’m not excusing some of the language that was used in and around that, but the wording as such and the context in that will hopefully give greater understanding.

“I can’t say too much as it’s before the tribunal.”

The tribunal hearing is an unwanted distraction for the Blues who are under searing pressure to climb the ladder after another disastrous loss.

The 93-point thrashing from the Giants has intensified the spotlight on under-siege coach Brendon Bolton and his young troops ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash against St Kilda on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

Match review officer Michael Christian had the option to fine Thomas $1500, but instead directed the Carlton utility straight to the tribunal.

“We considered what was said was serious enough to be sent straight to the tribunal,” Christian said.

The former Collingwood premiership star was unable to enter an early plea.

Carlton football director Chris Judd said the tribunal move was “extreme” and a “big call” in the circumstances.

“I haven’t spoken to Dale about that today, no,” Judd said on Channel 9.

“That’s pretty extreme. Umpires need to be respected.

“The AFL clearly look like they’re trying to set a precedent.

“That seems a big call to go straight to the tribunal for that.”

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The league controversially last week fined Sydney Swans’ co-captain Dane Rampe $10,000 (half suspended) for telling umpire Jacob Mollison he “talks like a little girl”.

Football operations boss Steve Hocking acknowledged Rampe’s public apology but sanctioned the gun Swan for ‘Conduct unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests to the AFL’.

James Hird was fined $20,000 for saying umpire Scott McLaren’s performance in a 2004 match was “disgraceful” in a Footy Show interview.

Last week Dane Rampe was fined $10,000 for abusing an umpire. Picture: Phil Hillyard

England rugby union player Dylan Hartley was banned for 11 weeks for calling umpire Wayne Barnes a “f***-ing cheat” during a match in 2013.

Hartley claimed he was talking to an opposition player, and not the umpire, but was found guilty by a disciplinary panel.

Thomas will be encouraged to make a full apology when he is called to explain his actions at the tribunal at Docklands.

The umpiring fraternity takes matters of integrity extremely seriously and was on Monday canvassed in the Thomas case.

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Thomas is likely to say his frustration at Carlton’s poor performance bubbled to the fore and were mistakenly directed towards the umpire in the heat of the moment.

But the league made clear it expected better behaviour from of the 247-game playmaker.

AFL heavyweights have repeatedly warned of the threat dwindling umpire participation numbers pose to the health of the game at grassroots level.

“We have some genuine work to do in that space and it’s not within the nine games on the weekend,” Hocking said.

“It’s how umpires are being talked about, reviewed constantly within games — critically.

“They do an unbelievable job … we need to change attitudes. It’s an industry thing.”