Fans fume as North Melbourne denied late shot on goal by umpiring howler

Footy fans have been left seething after North Melbourne were cruelly denied a shot on goal in the dying stages of a thrilling contest.

Footy fans have been left incensed after North Melbourne were cruelly denied a chance to win the game against Collingwood on Sunday.

North had control of the contest for the majority of the match, but the Pies came home with a wet sail in the fourth quarter.

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The reigning premiers stormed home after falling behind by 54 points in the third quarter as they secured the 18.11 (119) to 19.4 (118) victory.

But it was a moment in the dying stages of the fourth quarter that raised eyebrows and left those watching on seeing red.

Down by two points with under a minute on the clock, Nick Daicos kicked the ball off the deck from just outside his defensive 50.

His kick was hauled in by Bailey Scott around 75m from home and after marking he instantly went back behind the mark.

But as Scott backtracked he was confronted by two Collingwood players who went well over the mark.

Watch the controversial moment in the video player above

Two Pies players went well over the mark.

“That’s got to be 50,” Anthony Hudson shouted on Fox Footy.

But no whistle was coming for North as the umpire simply called for the two Collingwood players to clear the area and stand the mark.

Fans were not happy as the moment would have handed North a shot on goal and a chance to retake the lead in the dying stages.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote: “How was that not a 50-metre free kick to Bailey Scott??”

ESPN’s Matt Walsh wrote: “No 50 egregious.”

One user wrote: “The amount of 50s paid because some has slightly encroached the mark and then two players run straight over the mark and nothing? It’s laughable at this point.”

Wasn’t to be for North. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While the late 50m penalty would have given North a shot to retake the lead, the knives came out for coach Alastair Clarkson and his decision to sub out late inclusion Will Phillips.

Phillips was given the almighty task of running with Daicos and through three quarters the Pies superstar was barely sighted.

Then the shackles came off after Phillips was subbed out for Jaidyn Stephenson.

Daicos flipped the script and took the contest by the scruff of the neck as he burned North all over the ground in a blistering fourth quarter display.

He racked up 10 touches which included two clearances, four inside 50s and three goal assists.

Fans watching on were incensed and couldn’t believe the man who had curtailed his influence was taken out of the contest.

AFL great Tony Shaw said on 3AW: “I cannot believe Will Phillips was taken off as a sub. He’s really fit and was doing a good job on Nick Daicos.”

The Age’s Marc McGowan wrote: “Can’t wait to hear Clarko’s reasoning for subbing out Will Phillips.”

One user wrote: “Subbing Will Phillips has to be one of the great coaching chokes of our time.”

A second added: “Unless Will Phillips couldn’t go any longer, subbing him off is one of the worst coaching moves you will see. An absolute game changer.”