Footy fans left fuming after Patrick Dangerfield wins controversial free kick

Footy fans were left seeing red after a star was awarded a controversial free kick in a contest that went down to the wire.

Fans fume over Dangerfield free kick

Patrick Dangerfield was the hero for Geelong on Saturday night, but it was a contentious moment involving the star that had fans seeing red.

St Kilda flew home in the fourth quarter as they threatened to pull off an almighty upset against the Cats.

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It wasn’t to be for the Saints with Dangerfield slotting a monster goal with under a minute to play to seal the 10.16 (76) to 9.14 (68) win.

But it was an incident in the fourth term that cost the Saints dearly with Dangerfield earning a rather controversial free kick.

Saints defender Liam Stocker was paddling the ball as he looked to clear it away from a contest as he went to ground while slapping the footy away.

As Stocker lunged to the turf, Dangerfield came into the contest and dived over the top of the Saints defender.

Despite Stocker only having eyes for the ball, the umpire blew his whistle almost instantly and awarded the free to the Cats star for contact below the knees.

Sports commentator Darren Parkin wasn’t happy at all with what he’d seen unfold.

“Surely the worst decision of the season and won’t be beaten?” Parkin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Dangerfield wins contentious free kick

Fans weren’t happy with the incident. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The below the knees rule was brought into the game back in 2013 after Sydney’s Gary Rohan suffered a broken ankle in 2012 after North’s Lindsay Thomas slid into a contest.

The rule states that a free kick will be awarded against a player if they “make forceful contact below the knees of an opponent”.

It’s why fans were left furious on Saturday with Dangerfield barely receiving any contact before diving over the top of the Saints defender.

One user wrote: “That’s the worst free kick I’ve seen in years. Dangerfield should had one for knees in the back. Could have done serious damage to the Saints player.”

Another wrote: “Worst umpiring decision of the year so far but will probably be the leader by the end of the season. Dangerfield v Stocker, I guess it’s the Danger tax.”

The "below the knees" rule has never worked.
Dangerfield flew in recklessly, kneed a Saint in the back as by being second to the ball, and wins a free kick.
Make it make sense.#AFLCatsSaints

— Frank Daniels (@dfranc76) March 16, 2024

This is a wrong decision

Ball is never in dispute, Dangerfield was never winning it &
It is Danger who rushes in & causes contact.

Stocker off his feet does look bad so I do get umpires thinking. If ball in dispute - FK.

But should have just been play on here#AFLCatsSaintshttps://t.co/fGoA6hZkrw

— Has the umpire made A Bad decision? (@hasumpstuffedup) March 17, 2024

Dangerfield put the moment behind him as he stood tall when Geelong needed him most as he delivered a clutch moment in the dying stages.

The Cats led by 21 points midway through the final term before a late Saints surge saw them kick three straight goals and close to within one point.

But with around one minute left, Dangerfield took a strong contested mark on the edge of the 50m arc then slotted the goal to seal the win.

Dangerfield was integral to his side’s victory, amassing a team-high 25 disposals and 12 contested possessions in a performance which saw him wind back the clock.

“It went through, left to right, it always swings back at the Players’ end,” said Dangerfield jokingly when asked if he was confident it would go through when he kicked it.

– with foxsports.com.au