Storm erupts after ‘massive’ AFLW finals controversy

Footy fans are up in arms after an “absolutely shocking” moment during Friday night’s final where a rarely applied rule was enacted.

A controversial moment has stolen the spot light away from North Melbourne as the club secured a home preliminary final on Friday night.

The Roos were staring down the barrel of their first loss all season at halftime, but came back to defeat the Crows 5.8 (38) to 5.1 (31) at Ikon Park.

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Adelaide was left to rue its inability to hit the scoreboard during a dominant second term as the minor premier kicked clear in the third quarter and held their nerve to deliver a seven-point win.

It is a contentious first half free kick that has taken centre stage, however.

Down by five points late in the first term, the Roos were gifted a goal when a Bella Eddey shot at goal dropped short and Crows defender Zoe Prowse picked it up, only to be corralled over the line.

Prowse fumbled and then took off towards a pocket before retreating back over the line, but with two Roos on her hammer would have almost certainly been caught holding the ball had she tried to remain in play.

Kangaroos players were barely in frame as she picked up the ball.

Zoe Prowse walked it over. Photo: Twitter, 7AFL.

The umpire deemed it a deliberate rushed behind, handing Kate Shierlaw a shot from directly in front.

There is a clause in the deliberate rule for a free kick to be paid if the player has been deemed to have had “time and space to dispose of the football”, but it has rarely been enforced at AFLW level.

A Channel 7 commentator called it a “massive call”, while fans watching on vented their frustrations on social media.

One fan posted: “Well that was absolute rubbish call against Prowse!! Ugh. These umpires”.

The same fan also wrote: “Gah. North beat us by 8 points last time... 7 points this time, but should have been 1!!! Coz of that stupid call against Prowse”.

A Crows fan posted: “Absolutely shocking goal gifted to North. Keep at it girls”.

That fan posted again, writing: “Pissed about the umpiring, but again we missed opportunities and had some real stinker turnovers that cost us dearly”.

One fan wrote: “Woah, that is a bad call and never gets paid”.

Another posted: “Sorry but can the AFLW maybe make it look a little less obvious they want North to win. That was the worst call I’ve ever seen”.

There was no denying the Roos deserved the win, however, despite the Crows piling the pressure on in the fourth quarter.

Zoe Prowse of the Crows contest the ball. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Kate Shierlaw of the Kangaroos kicks a goal. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Chelsea Randall cut the margin to seven points with two minutes remaining via a long set shot goal, but by that point the Kangaroos had control of general play and did not feel truly under threat.

They were under immense pressure at the main break though, as Randall produced one of the best performances of her career in concert with Ebony Marinoff to give the Crows territory dominance early in the game.

A chase-down tackle from Randall on Erika O’Shea in the middle of the ground led to a Caitlin Gould goal to put the Crows five points in front, but despite handing the Roos their worst inside 50 differential in a single quarter (4-14) all year, that was the only goal they managed.

Bella Eddey finished beautifully for two crucial third-quarter goals and Amy Smith added another as the Roos overcame successful shut-down jobs on their two key forwards, Kate Shierlaw and Tahlia Randall, as well as important playmaker Alice O’Loughlin being held to nine touches.

Jasmine Garner and Ash Riddell racked up 10 clearances each and were the two leading ball-winners on the ground in the second half as the Roos steadied to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

The Crows will host the first semi-final to be held next weekend against the winner of Fremantle and Essendon.

KANGAROOS 2.1 2.1 5.4 5.8 (38)

CROWS 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.1 (31)

Crowd: 3689 at Ikon Park

BEST

Kangaroos: Garner, Riddell, Birch, Gatt, Eddey, Shierlaw.

Crows: Marinoff, Gould, C Randall, Goodwin, Ponter, Prowse.

GOALS

Kangaroos: Eddey 2, T Randall, Shierlaw, Smith.

Crows: Gould 2, C Randall 2, Ponter.

— with Ed Bourke