Little-known rule almost turns game as Gold Coast Suns down Western Bulldogs in Top End upset

The umpiring had been slammed by fans all night long, but this little-known quirk might have taken the cake as the strangest call made as the Suns downed the Dogs in Darwin.

Umpires review a goal decision during the Suns-Bulldogs fixture at TIO Stadium.

The umpiring in last night’s Suns-Dogs clash at TIO Stadium has raised eyebrows around the league, with the fans livid over some of the decisions made during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round match in the Top End, but it was one “quirk of footy” that saw fans and commentators alike scratching their heads.

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With 90 seconds left in the game and the Bulldogs trailing the Suns by two points, Aaron Naughton snapped one round the corner from 35 metres out in a moment of brilliance to cut the lead to two points at the death – or so he thought.

The goal umpire was not immediately convinced, and ended up sending the goal to score review, noticing the umpire’s flags flapping around behind the goalpost, and his hunch was confirmed as the ball indeed clipped the umpires’ flags.

So close for Naughton and the Dogs, as a flying shot hits the post!#AFLSunsDogspic.twitter.com/J7NMFBiy9h

— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 27, 2023

“A moment of brilliance, maybe!” was heard on commentary.

Shaun Burgoyne on Channel 7 was baffled.

“Wow. Is the flag part of the goalpost? I wasn‘t sure of the exact rule,” Burgoyne said.

Fans equally were baffled by the call, with some calling for a change to the rule.

“Is there any reason why the goal flags need to be behind the goalpost AND counted as part of the post?” asked one fan on social media.

“Either put them on the (behind) post, or understand if it‘s hit when behind the post, then it’s past the line and should be a goal.”

Seven senior producer Mark Thompson marvelled at the “quirk” of football.

“What a quirk of footy. The way a goal umpire stores his flags has an impact on the scoreboard! Incredible day. So many upsets. And an important win for Suns and Dew after this week’s headlines,” Thompson said.

The umpiring in general would be the focus of intense scrutiny, with one particular call for standing over the mark criticised for being too harsh.

Is this a genuine reason for a 50 metre penalty? #AFLSunsDogspic.twitter.com/ntNMhB7rFq

— Lace out (@laceoutofficial) May 27, 2023

One fan asked Twitter umpiring account @hasumpstuffedup whether it was “a genuine reason for a 50m penalty”, with the umpiring clarification account replying that it didn’t seem “egregious” enough to justify one.

“If a player is NOT in the marking contest and steps over the mark by a considerable distance they don‘t get a ‘back 2m’ warning,” replied the account.

“However, it doesn‘t look egregiously over the mark to me. So no 50m (to me).”

Another fan on social media was livid at the umpiring.

“The umpire telling the Gold Coast bloke that he‘d run 2 metres over the mark when in fact he’d just stood there was just atrocious,” said the fan.

The Age sports reporter Andrew Wu joked that he wouldn’t “(buy) real estate from this umpire”.

The Suns would go on to win the clash in an upset that stamps their potential on the competition, running over the Dogs 13.6 (84) to 11.11 (77) in a win that brings them within a game of the top eight.