Blues baffled by holding ball rule

Carlton coach David Teague says his players are seeking “a fair bit of clarity” on the new holding the ball interpretation after a controversial decision in the Blues’ loss to West Coast.

Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton questions the umpire during the game against West Coast at Optus Stadium

Carlton coach David Teague says his players are seeking “a fair bit of clarity” on the new holding the ball interpretation, which is under fire again after a controversial decision in the Blues’ loss to West Coast on Sunday.

Midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton was penalised for holding the ball and failing to make a genuine attempt to dispose of it in the first quarter at Optus Stadium.

The 22-year-old was wrapped up by Jack Darling, with both arms pinned immediately after taking possession at a stoppage.

Teague described the decision to penalise him for holding the ball was “an interesting one” but sympathised with the umpires as they adjusted to a mid-season change in interpretation.

“I will never ask our players to not go for the ball,” Teague said.

“Sammo is a beautiful ball-winner. We want him to go and hunt the ball.

“He got a free kick against, that’s going to happen sometimes, but my message to our players is any chance you can put your head over the ball and win the ball, you win it.

“If you get stung for holding the ball we’ll wear that.

“It was an interesting one.”

Watch Footy LIVE & On-Demand Every Day from July 29 - August 17 with Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Teague said the mid-season directive to tighten the adjudication of the holding the ball rule had left players and coaches unclear about what scenarios would result in a free kick.

“Our players are seeking a fair bit of clarity around it at the moment,” he said.

“It’s a hard one. Any time you change an interpretation through the season, it’s quite hard. As much for the umpires to adjudicate.

“Whether the umpires felt that was right or wrong that call, I don’t know because they’re going to make mistakes as well.

“So it’s hard for us as coaches and players to understand which one was an error and which one wasn’t to get a pattern going forward.

“It’ll work out. Right now you’ve got to try and move the ball on pretty quick when you can.

“But if you’ve got no other option, you’ve got no other option.”

Teague labelled West Coast the best team the Blues had encountered this season, but said he was pleased with his team’s performance, producing “one of our better games of footy”.

Star recruit Jack Martin will be assessed after suffering a calf injury in the second quarter and not returning, while ruckman Marc Pittonet was able to play through a finger injury.

Small forward Zac Fisher, who booted four goals, was the standout player in an even team

performance, with Teague pleased with his adjustment to a role in attack.

“Zac’s played some good midfield football for us and we put it to him that we wanted him to become a small forward,” Teague said.

“To be honest he probably didn’t want to originally. Then in the isolation period he rang me one day and he said, ‘I want to be the best small forward I can’ until he gets another chance in the midfield.

“I think we saw that today.”