AFL 2020: Holding the ball rule isn’t funny to Dave Hughes

Aussie comedian Dave Hughes was livid with what he saw on the footy field yesterday as AFL fans demand answers to a giant mystery.

Clear as mud.

The only certainty in footy this year is absolutely no one has any idea what the holding the ball rule is.

Ever since Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson asked umpires to reward tacklers more after his side’s four-point win over North Melbourne in Round 4, confusion has reigned over the officials’ interpretation of the law.

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Players are now getting penalised for being tackled even when they haven’t had prior opportunity to get rid of the Sherrin, and there’s a fear they will be discouraged from attacking the footy in a contest because even if they win it, they’re in danger of being pinged.

There was widespread outrage on Sunday after Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton was ruled guilty of holding the ball despite having no prior opportunity — the latest in a long line of dicey calls.

Blues coach David Teague was reluctant to criticise the umpires after his team’s 22-point loss to West Coast, calling the decision an “interesting one”, but added his players “are seeking a fair bit of clarity around” the holding the ball rule.

Aussie comedian Dave Hughes, a diehard Carlton fan, was absolutely livid watching the game yesterday, venting his disgust in a series of tweets where he accused the umpires of favouring the Eagles.

“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,” he tweeted.

“At least ten times same situation with @WestCoastEagles players not paid. These umpires are ridiculous.

“Nic Nat took three steps near the @CarltonFC goalsquare. Got tackled. Didn’t dispose correctly. No free. Other end SPS (Sam Petrevski-Seton) takes one half step. Tackled. Free. Just crazy stupid umpiring.

“Blatant potential leg breaking trip on Curnow. Play on. Just horrific umpiring in this @afl game at @OptusStadium today.”

Replying to a picture of three umpires around a West Coast player, Hughes wrote: “Three of those four deserve (Brownlow Medal) votes today.”

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Hey @afl, this is why today wasn’t acceptable. Sort it out please. https://t.co/eMzPC7MClL

— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) August 9, 2020

Speaking on SEN Breakfast this morning, Essendon legend Tim Watson said what everybody is thinking.

“I don’t think you should gloss over the fact that there is utter confusion around the holding the ball thing at the moment,” Watson said.

“There are free kicks and there are free kicks … and in a game that is finely balanced, that can be the difference between winning and losing a game of footy.

“Carlton coach David Teague admits his players are confused by the interpretation of the holding the ball rule.

“I know you can go down a hole and never come back up again when you start talking about this stuff. There is a lot more frustration around this particular rule and the interpretation of this particular rule more than any other.”

Former AFL umpire Matt Head wrote on Twitter: “I’d like @afl to come and say if HTB is being adjudicated well. Then have 5-10 examples as the blueprint so everyone can understand what is trying to achieved.”

Even ex-AFL umpires boss Peter Schwab is as perplexed as everyone else.

“Not going to even guess at what HTB rule is anymore. Just watch the game and watch the players do good things and hope for close results,” he wrote.

Maybe footy players should spend more time practising their hot potato skills.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson sympathised with the officials but said there’s no doubt ball winners are being treated too harshly.

“The sport has lost its handle on what is prior opportunity and what constitutes ‘making a genuine attempt’ when the arms are clearly pinned and a second, sometimes third tackler piles on top,” Robinson wrote in his weekly column The Tackle.

“Let’s give the ball winner a little benefit of the doubt. Because right now, it seems the benefit of the doubt is going to the tackler.”

Geelong premiership winner Cameron Ling added his voice to the chorus of confused fans.

“We’re definitely not alone if we’re confused,” he said during Seven’s broadcast of the Carlton-West Coast game.

“I’m confused, I feel like we all are in the same boat and there’s a lot of people out there just not sure whether they (free kicks) are going to be paid or not paid.”