AFL Round 4 Gold Coast v Adelaide: All the news and fallout as the Suns hold on in controversial thriller

It was the controversial call that had the footy world talking and led to the Crows demanding answers from the AFL. So, what does former umpire Ray Chamberlain think?

Adelaide will ask the AFL umpiring department for a “please explain” after several controversial decisions went against it during the club’s thrilling loss on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The most contentious came with 1min 45sec left in the game when the Crows trailed by one point and star Crow Izak Rankine was denied a mark or free kick inside 50 after appearing to be held by Suns defender Sam Collins while claiming the ball out of the air.

Commentators were baffled by the play-on call, while ex-umpire Ray Chamberlain thought a holding infringement was warranted.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks thought Rankine should have been paid something.

Should have this been paid a mark to Izak Rankine?

“My version is I think if he didn’t mark it, he was tackled in the marking contest,” Nicks said.

Nicks stopped short of blaming the officials for the defeat, saying “we made so many mistakes throughout the game – things happen.”

But he felt for frustrated Crows fans.

“Clearly, we weren’t at our best today,” he said.

“But I thought we did really well to hang in.

“You get to the end of the game and we’ve given ourselves a chance and you need every bit of luck in that moment.

“That last minute and a half we clearly didn’t get things going our way.

“I preach about being in the moment, don’t blame others, get on with life, you’ve got to butter up and go again next week, so I’m doing my best to stay in that space.

“I’d say we’ve got some frustrated fans out there and I feel for them.

“I’m a little bit with them.”

The Izak Rankine non-mark in question. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Chamberlain said on ABC: “The mark ... is a judgment call, they’re subjective. But I do think he (Rankine) was tackled to the ground from Collins and a free kick was warranted.”

The AFL apologised twice to Adelaide in 2023 for umpiring mistakes in the dying stages of one-point losses, as well as after a three-point defeat last year.

A goal umpiring blunder cost Ben Keays a go-ahead major in a heartbreaking home defeat to Sydney that ended the Crows’ finals hopes in 2023.

Earlier that year, the league also conceded Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson should have been awarded a free kick inside 50 in the closing seconds against Collingwood at the MCG.

Last season, the AFL admitted umpires erred by not penalising Essendon ruckman Sam Draper for diving on the footy and then getting tackled inside the Crows’ attacking 50 just before the siren in the Bombers’ win.

Free kicks finished 25-14 in the Suns’ favour on Saturday.

Fox Footy’s David King said the umpire froze with the Rankine decision.

“It’s a mark or a free kick,” King said.

“The fact they (the Suns) get the last four or five free kicks, I think the Crows will feel a little hard done by.”

The umpire deemed it play on and Gold Coast managed to hold the Crows out to win in hot and slippery conditions.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick refused to buy into the marking controversy.

“We’re not going to go through every free kick are we? It’s a tough game to umpire, we understand that,” Hardwick said.

“Fact of the matter is the umpire calls the plays, I don’t get to coach it from the box.”

Clearance kings

Nicks suggested Gold Coast had the best midfield in the AFL in the lead up to the clash but it was the Crows who won the battle in the centre.

The Crows won the clearances 47-34 and while the Suns had their moments where they could spread quickly from a stoppage it was Adelaide who gained the biggest advantage from the work of their engine room.

The Crows walk off after Saturday’s loss. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Capitalise or concede

Gold Coast had numerous opportunities to break away from the Crows but squandered the forward 50m dominance. Gold Coast had 60 inside 50s compared to Adelaide’s 53 and had six more scoring shots than their South Australian rivals. Poor decisions or execution and missed tackles enabled Adelaide to transition from their backline through the corridor and often scored going the other way.

True grit: Bodhi Uwland is the ultimate barometer for the Suns. Often undersized and against skilful forwards, Uwland saved multiple goals by making crucial tackles on the back of pure work rate. Given the Crows were able to swamp the middle of the ground Gold Coast leaked goals against the run of play but they would have conceded more if not for the team-first mentality of Uwland.

Matt Rowell looks destined to remain a Sun. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Daniel Rioli and Ben Long celebrate a goal.

Sign Rowell while the club is up

Matt Rowell looks destined to remain at the Suns despite rival clubs circling the midfield bull who is about to come out of contract.

Gold Coast will be comfortable with where they are placed but they should be doing everything in their power to get Rowell to put pen to paper while the club has momentum.

The Suns have three wins to start the season and have shown enormous promise. It could be their greatest chance to ensure one of its most important players is here for years to come.