Fans rage over deliberate non-call in Adelaide’s one-point thriller over Demons

The Adelaide Crows have ended the Melbourne Demons unbeaten run at the top of the AFL but it wasn’t without controversy.

The Demons incredible streak was ended by one of the most unlikely sides.

The Adelaide Crows have handed the Melbourne Demons its first loss of the season in stunning fashion with a one-point win at Adelaide Oval.

In an incredible game packed with action as Taylor Walker kicked the winner with 43 second remaining and surviving a final onslaught from the Demons to hang on for the 15.6 (96) to 14.11 (95) result.

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But fans have been left fuming after the umpires refused to reward a free kick when Adelaide’s Nick Murray appeared to deliberately handball the ball over the boundary line.

In the commentary box, one of the commentators could be heard saying “deliberate”.

However the umpires called it refused to award the free kick due to insufficient intent.

It was the decisive call of the game as well as with 27 seconds remaining, the Crows were able to get the ball and hang on for the famous win.

It sparked incredible scenes as the Crows went nuts over their fourth win of the season so far.

But the attention quickly turned to the non-call that cost the Demons a last shot at snatching the win.

“To me it was deliberate. Completely deliberate. And it should have been called that by the umps,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy after the game.

“That has to be deliberate doesn’t it?” commentator Jason Dunstall said. “It’s a 10m handball over the boundary line!”

Amazing scenes at full-time.

It was just the start of the reaction as fans blew up over the umpires apparent refusal to act when the game is on the line.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph tweeted that “you have never seen a more deliberate out of bounds call in your life”.

I loved the drama. But you have never seen a more deliberate out of bounds call in your life. 12 metres out, he handballs directly to the boundary. Demons would have drawn at the very least with a shot from a point down pic.twitter.com/6NR9hsEMGm

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 22, 2021

Former AFL umpire Matt Head tweeted: “In umpiring terms, that’s a CLANGER”.

Umpire absolutely shat himself there with the non deliberate call #afl#AFLCrowsDees

— Jason Gram (@gramsy_1) May 22, 2021

Would love to know how many last-minute free kicks get paid to teams in their own forward line when they need a goal to win? Seems they barely get paid. But an umpire deciding to put the whistle away is still influencing the result#AFLCrowsDees

— Sam Wilkinson (@WilkoSam) May 22, 2021

Love the story. Hate the lack of courage from the officials.

Geelong in Geelong
Sydney in Sydney
Adelaide in Adelaide

You join the dots .. #AFLCrowsDees

— QUENTIN HULL (@QuentinHull) May 22, 2021

Australian Rules Football is a hard game to adjudicate but the only tough part about that making call was that it was late and it was against the home team in front of a very vocal crowd. Free kick Demons all day, every day #AFLCrowsDees

— Lachie Young (@lachie_young) May 22, 2021

Should have been paid deliberate to the Dees but how’s that final siren roar. Incredible scenes.

Sport hey 😍 #AFLCrowsDees

— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) May 22, 2021

Wow. Huge call not to pay deliberate at the end! #AFLCrowsDees

— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) May 22, 2021

Gutless umpiring #AFLCrowsDees

— Nick Smart (@NickSmart85) May 22, 2021

The result ended the Demons’ chance at the club’s second longest winning streak.

For two teams who missed the finals in 2020 — Adelaide with the wooden spoon — it shows how quickly clubs can turn it around with Adelaide now moving a win outside the eight.

And fans were calling it one of the best games of the season