AFL round 11: Adelaide crowd erupt after contentious umpiring decisions

The Adelaide crowd erupted in an explosive chorus of boos after the Richmond Tigers took the lead in controversial circumstances.

The Adelaide crowd erupted in an explosive chorus of boos after the Richmond Tigers took the lead in controversial circumstances.

The AFL’s umpiring has once again came under fire after a couple of questionable decisions during Saturday’s entertaining contest between Port Adelaide and the Richmond Tigers.

During the enthralling round 11 contest at Adelaide Oval, two controversial calls resulted in a throbbing chorus of boos ringing around the stadium for several minutes.

The defending premiers were trailing by eight points in the second quarter when full-forward Tom Lynch booted the footy inside 50 towards teammate Jack Riewoldt.

After dropping the mark, Riewoldt was awarded a free kick because the umpire believed Power defender Tom Clurey had interfered with the Tigers star in the air. However, replays showed Richmond superstar Dustin Martin had shoved Clurey before the mark was attempted.

Watch Footy LIVE & On-Demand Every Day from July 29 – August 17 with Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Former Port Adelaide player Dwayne Russell was left in shock following the “horrible” call.

“Oh, I thought it was a free kick against Dustin Martin,” Russell said on Fox Footy.

“He gave one of the best shoves you’ve ever seen, Dustin Martin … this is an extraordinary decision.

“That’s a horrible decision, just a horrible decision.”

Four-time premiership player Jason Dunstall agreed: “He pushed him into Riewoldt.”

As Riewoldt prepared to take the free kick, the 10,000-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval immediately voiced their dissatisfaction, and the thunderous noise only grew when the Sherrin sailed between the centre posts.

“They are going berserk over there at Adelaide Oval,” Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said on Fox Footy.

“It’s madness over there.”

Dustin Martin during the round 11 AFL match against the Port Adelaide Power.

AFL LIVE SCORES: Round 11 match centres

Less than two minutes later, Martin booted a major of his own to put Richmond ahead on the scoreboard. But the crowd erupted once again because Riewoldt potentially should have been pinged for holding the ball.

“Twice in a row now, Port Adelaide … have been absolutely murdered by the umpiring,” McGuire said.

St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt responded: “That’s twice the Port Adelaide players have almost stopped because they were expecting the free kick to be paid.”

In response to the incident, Melbourne Renegades cricketer Anna Lanning tweeted: “Instead of worrying about players ‘staging’ how about the AFL sort out their umpiring department.

“Missing blatant, obvious free kicks … you wouldn’t get staging if they paid the free kicks that are there.”

Leader News reporter James Mottershead posted: “This is why free kick counts don’t have to be even for umpiring to be good.”

Sports journalist Jack Hudson tweeted: “Is Dustin Martin the most protected player in the game? What a farce.

“That is an absolute disgrace.”

Channel 7 AFL commentator Jude Bolton posted: “Port fans sounding like they will torch the Adelaide Oval with the umpiring going against them inside the lie defensive 50.”

Jack Riewoldt celebrates his third goal of the match.

READ MORE: AFL young gun kicks ‘impossible’ goal

Freelance journalist Craig Cook posted: “The umpiring is the biggest story of the AFL 2020 season — beyond inept.

“Teams should be allowed a video review for a shocking decision like that one with the Martin push.”

Nine News sports presenter Paddy Sweeney posted: “If Richmond win this, the umpires won’t get out alive.”

Glenelg football legend Graham Cornes tweeted: “Port Adelaide definitely shafted by three incomprehensible decisions or maybe that’s non-decisions.”

Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Vince Rugari called it an “absolute stitch up”.

7 News presenter Tom Browne tweeted: “I often defend the umpires. Feel for port fans, that Martin push decision was a bad miss.”

Entrepreneur and media personality Darryn Lyons bluntly tweeted: “Umpiring appalling.”

However, former Carlton star Brendan Fevola saw things differently, and argued: “Umpires have been amazing. There I said it.”

At three-quarter time, Richmond narrowly led the match 10.11 (71) to 11.6 (72). However, Port Adelaide powered ahead in the final 16 minutes towards an unforgettable victory.